New photo Health Secretary Matt Hancock faces an investigation into whether he has been paid by Babylon app

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been accused of breaking ethics rules after he praised the private health firm app Babylon. 

Mr Hancock claimed he has 'become known for using the app' while speaking to the Evening Standard in an article published 'in association' with Babylon GP At Hand.

A source has insisted the Cabinet Minister did not know the feature, which a critic has called 'embarrassing', would be sponsored by Babylon. 

Labour Shadow Cabinet Minister Justin Madders has reported the incident to Theresa May and requested an investigation into whether Mr Hancock received any 'gift, hospitality or payment for being interviewed'.

The controversial app charges users £9.99 for fast-track treatment and receives NHS funds for every patient it treats. But some have questioned how accurate it is, calling Babylon 'McDonald's medicine'.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been accused of breaking ethics rules after he praised the private health firm app Babylon. The incident reportedly goes against the Ministerial Code. Mr Hancock is pictured arriving for a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street on Monday

The Ministerial Code states ministers should not 'normally accept invitations to act as patrons of, or otherwise offer support to, pressure groups, or organisations dependent in whole or in part on Government funding'.  

It adds: 'Ministers should take care to ensure they do not become associated with non-public organisations whose objectives may in any degree conflict with government policy and thus give rise to a conflict of interest.'

In a letter passed to HuffPost UK, Mr Madders told the Prime Minister: 'I am writing to express my sincere concern that [Mr] Hancock may be in direct contravention of the Ministerial Code.

Controversial health app Babylon charges users £9.99 for fast-track treatment and receives NHS funds for every patient it treats

'Promoting pay-for-access health products, which Mr Hancock's comments would appear to amount to, subverts the objective and principles of a National Health Service, free at the point of use and open to all regardless of means.

'Would you please investigate whether the Rt Hon Matt Hancock received any form of gift, hospitality or payment for being interviewed for this newspaper advertorial?' 

In the article, Mr Hancock praised the app for allowing more people to visit their GP and said the 'efficient' technology should be 'embraced'.

An online version of the article, which featured in the Future London Health Supplement, states it received 'financial support' from the app. 

Mr Hancock was previously special adviser to the former chancellor George Osborne, who is now editor of the Evening Standard.  

Maxine Mackintosh, a PhD student in data science & dementia at UCL, called the article 'embarrassing' for 'dangerously blurring personal use of a service in a sponsored feature'

ONE IN FOUR GPS WOULD CONSIDER QUITTING THEIR JOBS TO WORK FOR A HEALTH DIAGNOSIS APP 

One in four GPs would consider quitting their jobs to work for a health diagnosis app, research suggested in July 2018.

Improved pay is a key driver behind doctors considering working for controversial online private providers such as Babylon Health, a survey found.

In 2018, an NHS consultant claimed he tested Babylon by pretending to have a nosebleed with reduced sexual desire. 

The app concluded he was likely suffering from erectile dysfunction, which he called a 'risk to patient safety'.

Although Dr Krishna Kasaraneni, from the British Medical Association, claims most doctors prefer face-to-face consultations within the NHS, she adds many medics are increasingly frustrated by 'unmanageable workloads' and 'chronic underfunding'.

Babylon, which offers both a private and an NHS service, reportedly pays its 200 GPs a full-time salary of around £90,000 to work from home or £108,000 if office based.

Although an attractive option for some, other GPs dismiss such services as 'McDonald's medicine'. 

Yet 63.16 per cent of the 760 GPs surveyed by Pulse said they would not consider working for such apps due to them being 'high risk' for patient safety and 'unethical'.  

Part-time GPs are more likely to be tempted, with 39 per cent saying they would consider such a position compared to just 20 per cent of GP partners. 

The remaining medics surveyed were unsure if they would take up such a position. 

Some 1.6 per cent of those questioned already hold part or full-time positions at online private practitioners. 

A Department of Health spokesperson said the Health Secretary has no alliances to any particular company or brand.

He instead champions a range of technologies that could improve patient outcomes, free up doctors' time and make money go further, the spokesperson added.

The Department for Health and Social Care, and Babylon, declined to comment when approached by HuffPost UK.

A representative from the Evening Standard stated the interview was carried out according to the paper's 'editorial judgement' and was not an advert. 

This comes after Mr Hancock called Babylon 'revolutionary' in an interview with The Telegraph two months ago and said it should be available to 'all'. 

He spoke at the company's offices in Chelsea that same month.

Documents released to the Health Service Journal under the Freedom of Information Act in August also revealed Babylon's CEO Ali Parsa was among the first technology executives to meet Mr Hancock within days of his appointment as Health Secretary. 

GP At Hand is available to those who live and work in London, and is classed as a full NHS GP practice. 

Babylon, which offers both a private and an NHS service, reportedly pays its 200 GPs a full-time salary of around £90,000 to work from home or £108,000 if office based.

Although an attractive option for some, other GPs have dismissed such services as 'McDonald's medicine'.  

Earlier this year, an NHS consultant claimed he tested Babylon by pretending to have a nosebleed with reduced sexual desire. 

The app concluded he was likely suffering from erectile dysfunction, which he called a 'risk to patient safety'.

 

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News Pictures Health Secretary Matt Hancock faces an investigation into whether he has been paid by Babylon app

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