On 09/02/2018 08:58, RJH wrote:


The private health provider, propped up by hedge funds, provide the
*capital* (equipment and buildings) that the NHS can't afford up front.
The revenue costs are difficult to track - they're generally tied to a
geared contract that includes 'benign' services - cleaning, maintenance
and admin - which is where real money is to be made later into the
contract. Once it's changed hands several times and nobody can track any
hint of goodwill.

That would be why the private hospitals have proton therapy machines then?


The costs are now pretty much on record - factors of several what the
NHS would have paid, had it had access to capital. it obviously varies
by contract. Virtually all contracts involve a loss leader. Renal, say,
may show remarkable value - and that's the contract that'll be wheeled
out as an example, should anyone have the audacity to ask about costs
and benefits. The rest will be concealed under a 'commercially
sensitive' gagging order.

Near daily news reports on this from politicians and journalists onÂ* all
sides. And of course the academic literature.