10:20am Monday 10th November 2008
By David Lindsell
Out of the 40 healthcare companies originally vying to run elective care surgery at Kingston Hospital, two are left, it has been revealed.
As part of the plan, the firm could also build a private hospital on site. And, according to a Freedom of Information request by the Surrey Comet, as of July 2008, the hospital had spent £300,000 on management consultants and legal fees to help it on the project.
The development was first announced in January last year.
The hospital declined to name the two remaining bidders, citing commercial confidentiality, but said both were “first class” providers of healthcare.
However, Geoff Martin, of campaign group Health Emergency, criticised the money spent, saying hospital management had taken its eye off the ball.
He said: “It is an awful lot of money to spend on what looks like a project that is going nowhere, at a time when the trust is in dire financial straits.
“If they concentrated a bit more on the bread-and-butter issues, rather than these grand plans, they would be delivering far better in terms of financial management.”
The winner of the 10-year contract would “advise” the hospital on running its existing private ward in the Coombe Wing, would advise on elective surgery and could potentially build a private hospital on site.
Profits would be split between it and the hospital.
Acting chief executive Alan Pearse said: “It has taken a long time but, because of the nature of the deal, we have to be clear about the benefits before it goes ahead.”
He admitted that all the time and investment could come to nothing if no deal was struck.
He said: “It is a possibility, but I don’t think so given all the work we have put into it and the discussions between ourselves and the independent sector.”
Staff were told on Monday they would not be managed by a private company, the original plan, but continue to be managed by the NHS.
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