Health Select Committee

Inquiry into the Role of the Private Sector in the NHS

In September 2001, the Committee announced its first major inquiry of the new Parliament "The Role of the Private Sector in the NHS".

The inquiry's remit was to specifically focus on -

The NHS Concordat with the Private and Voluntary Sectors
The Private Finance Initiative
Public Private Partnerships

FIPO's submission to the Committee can be accessed here

FIPO made it clear that:

It was an apolitical organisation
It supported the broad principles of the NHS
If the government was pursuing Concordat agreements there would be a number of issues flowing from this (liability, continuity of care, junior doctors training and contractual matters)
It's primary concern was to maintain the standards of care in both the NHS and independent sectors.

FIPO was subsequently invited to give evidence in person to the Committee and Mr John Fieldhouse (as a member of the FIPO Board) duly attended the Inquiry on Thursday 6th December 2001 on the same panel as the Independent Healthcare Association (represented by Barry Hassell, Chief Executive) and General Healthcare Group (owners of BMI Hospitals, represented by Charles Auld, Chief Executive).