Private firm in first takeover of British state hospital

Healthcare provider Circle, listed on the London Stock Exchange, has signed a 10-year contract worth £1 billion ($1.59 billion, 1.17 billion euros) to run Hinchingbrooke hospital in Huntingdon, eastern England.

The local state health authority, Hinchingbrooke Health Care National Health Service (NHS) Trust, has racked up a £39 million debt.

Although some public health services in Britain -- such as hip replacement centres -- are already managed by private companies, this is the first time a non-state provider has taken on the full range of hospital services.

The takeover will be seen by critics as a further step towards privatisation of British health services.

Circle, which describes itself as Europe's biggest healthcare partnership, takes over in February and will be responsible for ensuring the hospital's financial viability.

Hinchingbrooke hospital opened in 1983 and caters for more than 161,000 people in the local area.

Doctor Stephen Dunn, policy and strategy director at the NHS Midlands and East health authority cluster, said: "This is not privatisation... this is a change in management -- not a change in services."

Circle chief executive Ali Parsa said they hoped to show "how clinician and staff control can provide a more sustainable alternative" to simply closing struggling small hospitals.

Unison, Britain's largest trade union, said the takeover was "an accident waiting to happen".

"Privatisation, which brings in the profit motive, will damage our NHS," said head of health Christina McAnea.

"The hospital could have been kept running for the benefit of patients, rather than profiteers. This must not become a precedent for the NHS, or millions more staff and patients will be put at risk."

(c) 2011 AFP