Private sector could run under-performing NHS hospitals

Dr. Natalie-Jane Macdonald, managing director of Bupa Commissioning, said: "We all support a strong, effective NHS and today's proposals by the Government to allow the private sector, as well as other parts of the NHS and NHS Foundation Trusts, to help improve the management of under-performing NHS hospitals, represent just one of many ways in which private companies can make a contribution to the UK health service.

"However, as Bupa is no longer a major operator of hospitals in the UK, today's proposals are not directly relevant to us. Instead, we are committed to working with and supporting the NHS through sharing our commissioning expertise with Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). We are already doing this with a number of PCTs across the country, who are drawing on our 60 years' experience in healthcare, to help develop world-class commissioning functions, including assessment and planning, contracting and procurement, performance management, settlement and review and patient and public engagement.

"Like the NHS, Bupa is committed to putting the needs of patients first. We have no shareholders and reinvest surpluses back into the business for the benefit of patients."