A "fair playing field" for NHS providers will be vital for best care, the NHS Partners Network has said responding to the first stage of Monitor's review.
According to David Worksett, director of NHS Partners network, if barriers persisted, and incumbent providers or new entrants were unduly favoured, improving and innovating the NSH would be "much more difficult".
"It is absolutely vital that commissioners and patients alike should be in a position to use the best quality and best value providers," Worksett said.
"It is important to remember that this is not an economic or theoretical debate. And while it is right to consider the impact of new entrants on existing services this must not be used as special pleading to protect poor services that need to be replaced in patients' interests."
