Secret plan for NHS hospitals to go private

A secret government plan to privatise state-of-the-art NHS hospitals has been uncovered by the Evening Standard.

Private-sector firms are being invited to run two centres for hip and knee operations - Ravenscourt Park Hospital in Chiswick and the South-West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre. Other units across the country could follow, helping ministers to fulfil a pledge that patients will have the choice of at least one private hospital for treatment.

Jonathan Fielden of the British Medical Association said ministers were set on "the most profound privatisation agenda for the NHS yet." He added: "That is a debate we should be having out in the open instead of it being done quietly and surreptitiously."

The move comes after Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said she will pay the private sector £3 billion of NHS cash for 1.7 million operations for health service patients. Most will be orthopaedics or cataract operations, or ear, nose and throat procedures.

Advertisements inviting private bids for the work have already appeared, with NHS facilities barred from applying.

But handing over NHS units to be run by the private sector could get round this rule. The 50-bed orthopaedic centre, which cost ?15million, opened only in January. Now staff have been told "expressions of interest [to manage it] are being sought from the independent sector."

The same is happening at Ravenscourt Park, bought from the private sector in 2002 for £14million and £12 million in debt. The Health Department says no final decision has been taken.