CHEESE could save the NHS from privatisation if Environment Secretary Owen Patterson’s claims are correct.

Mr Patterson told Tory conference yesterday that the secretive TTIP trade deal — that could force NHS services to be outsourced — is in danger over food protection concerns.

He reported one of the major sticking points is over demands that US-made versions of European cheeses not be allowed to use traditional names.

He said EU countries were concerned their trademark cheese would be undercut in the free market deal.

“The Greeks are digging in on feta and the Italians on parmesan,” he said.

And he warned the US was not prepared to budge and could bring down the whole deal.

“This is established, it is a key product for many American consumers and producers and they are not going to move.

“What we must not do is go for perfection and throw out the good.”