Private firms may run NHS hospitals
Updated on 03 June 2008
Critics have attacked Government plans to allow private companies to take over the management of struggling NHS hospitals and primary care trusts.
Health minister Ben Bradshaw is due to give details of the proposals, which will include the recruitment of new executives for failing hospitals from private companies like Bupa or from top-grade trusts elsewhere in the NHS.
Some low-performing hospitals could also be merged with neighbouring Foundation Trusts that enjoy a record of high performance.
About 20 NHS trusts which are falling short of minimum standards on quality, safety or finances are set to be identified as candidates for takeover.
The first - Hinchingbrooke, Cambridgeshire - is already understood to be searching for new management, which could come from the private sector. The plans have already been criticised, even before the details are announced.
Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union which represents NHS staff and ambulance drivers, said the union "will resist this move with every sinew".
He added: "This announcement shows that New Labour seems to be on a death wish and is totally out of touch with the needs and wishes of ordinary people in this country."
Dr Jonathan Fielden, of the British Medical Association, told Channel 4 News: "We have grave concerns about this. This is part and parcel of the market in health care which brings winners and losers, and in those losers the Government is bringing in the private sector - effectively privatising part of the NHS.
"We are concerned that will lead to fragmentation and the private sector just looking for profits out of the NHS, leaving the difficulties - the harder cases - with the NHS."
The Department of Health stressed that contracts with private firms to provide management services at NHS trusts would not involve the transfer of NHS assets or staff to the private sector.
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