John Hutton signed off thirteen NHS Private Finance Initiative (PFI) building projects as a Labour health minister in 2002 (see footnote). Last month he was appointed to speak up for private sector investors ahead … Read more
hospitals
HSJ reports that experts have warned that the drive to cut NHS waiting lists is becoming ‘disproportionately reliant’ on the private sector, as new data suggests rapid growth in the … Read more
In the face of rising waiting lists government policy has aimed to increase the role of the independent sector in tackling these record delays, but as a Lowdown analysis of … Read more
A continuing barrage of misinformation on the supposed boom in private medical treatment as a result of the soaring NHS waiting lists has continued into the summer ‘silly season’ for … Read more
Centene, a major US health insurer, has just agreed to sell off its largest British acquisition, Circle Healthcare, which owned the UK’s biggest chain of private hospitals. The US corporation’s … Read more
A barrage of publicity surrounded the publication last week of the long-awaited report of Rishi Sunak’s 17-strong “taskforce” on elective recovery, which was set up last December. There was no … Read more
An international private equity firm has bought up a UK-based agency that employs NHS doctors and nurses outside their contracted hours – to do “insourcing” work in NHS hospitals, reports the Financial Times. … Read more
Two weeks ago, the Lowdown took a detailed look at the situation of the private healthcare sector. We were seeking to understand why – after 13 years of policies promoting privatisation and … Read more
A January HSJ article has confirmed what trade union representatives and Labour MPs have repeatedly argued: that the creation of ‘wholly owned’ sub companies by NHS Trusts (and FTs) was in almost every case, … Read more
HSJ has reported that Royal United Hospitals Bath Foundation Trust has been accused of promoting its private hospital by highlighting the long NHS waiting times which it is supposed to … Read more
Byline Times reports that a government health minister and two senior officials held a meeting with a Westminster lobbying group funded by private healthcare firms. As previously revealed by Byline Times, the … Read more
NHS England has revealed plans to crack down on poor care being provided by mental health service providers. The organisation has told HSJ of a new quality programme that focuses on … Read more
The NHS is paying £2bn a year to private hospitals to care for mental health patients because it does not have enough of its own beds, according to a report by Laing … Read more
A specialist eating disorder hospital, the Shoen Clinic in York run by Newbridge Care Systems, has been placed in special measures and told to make urgent improvements within six months … Read more
Cygnet Wast Hills, an independent hospital for people with complex learning disabilities or autism, has yet again been rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission following a visit in November … Read more
The Priory Arnold, a mental health hospital run by The Priory Group, that was put in special measures last year has once again been rated “inadequate” following a newCare Quality Commission inspection. … Read more
The CQC has found that the staff at Huntercombe Hospital Stafford failed to provide kind and compassionate care and did not treat children with respect. The hospital was downgraded from … Read more
As the most vulnerable NHS mental health patients face growing waits for treatment, and the health secretary has announced that new staff ministers announce they want to start talking about … Read more
With elective care waiting lists at a record high of over 6 million, hospitals are working flat out to make a meaningful impact, with hospital trusts having to find ways … Read more
NHS England’s annual accounts show that NHS commissioners’ spending on private healthcare were up 27% to more than £18bn in 2020-21, with pandemic effects causing it to rise faster than … Read more
