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NHS trust prepares to buy private hospital
Exclusive NHS bosses are planning the multi-million-pound takeover of a private hospital in Yorkshire.
Officials at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust have reached an agreement in principle to buy the private Nuffield Hospital in Cottingham, near Hull.
The purchase of the hospital, set in the grounds of the NHS-run Castle Hill Hospital, would be highly unusual, with only one other private unit believed to have been snapped up by the NHS in recent years.
But it would offer a ready-made solution for hospital
chiefs in East Yorkshire to treat more patients in modern facilities.
Managers need to increase capacity to cope with an upsurge in demand for treatment to hit and maintain new Government targets from December that patients must be treated within 18 weeks of being referred by their GP.
More controversially, it could also retain its status treating private patients.
Hospital bosses in Hull yesterday refused to comment on the takeover, claiming talks were at an early stage.
But the Yorkshire Post understands an agreement in principle has been reached and detailed contractual negotiations are now underway to sort out the terms of the deal.
Trust chiefs have already drawn up and approved a business case for the take-over.
No costs are being put on the buy-out but managers have already earmarked cash for the deal in the coming months as part of planned capital spending of 34m in 2008-9.
The 38-bed hospital employs 75 permanent staff and has three main operating theatres and one minor theatre.
It currently provides a full range of services for private patients including routine surgery and diagnostic care for the treatment of cancer, joint replacements, anti-obesity surgery and spinal operations. It also has two high-dependency beds and all of its rooms have en-suite facilities.
Staff already treat significant numbers of patients who cannot be routinely dealt with in NHS units.
Latest figures for January to June last year reveal there were no cases of the superbug MRSA.
In 2001, the Department of Health bought the luxury private Heart Hospital, off Harley Street in London, for 27m.
The deal for the 95-bed hospital was made to significantly increase the number of heart operations in the capital. All the staff were transferred to the NHS.
Nuffield Hospitals sold nine hospitals, including its centres in Huddersfield and Harrogate, to another private provider as
part of a restructuring of the business to focus on providing a wider range of health and "wellness" services in a transfer in February.
A spokeswoman said it had also let it be known its hospitals in Hull and Bristol were available for sale. NHS hospital bosses in Hull were given first option as it was in the grounds of Castle Hill Hospital.
"This option is under consideration by both parties but it may be some time before anything is decided," she said.
Staff and consultants working at the hospital had been informed that a number of options including sale were being considered.
David Haire, director of planning at Hull hospitals, said: "It would be inappropriate at this stage of discussions to make any comment."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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