PFI A Millstone For NHS, British Medical Association Says

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 02 Sep 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Commenting on today's (Tuesday 2 September, 2008) Public Accounts Committee report on the management of PFI contracts, Dr Jonathan Fielden, Chairman of the BMA's Consultants Committee, says:

"PFI has proved a long-term millstone around the neck of the NHS, dragging down otherwise good organisations. Many of the contracts were poorly set up, biased towards the private sector providers and inflexible, leaving NHS trusts struggling to meet repayments and facing decades of debts. Money that trusts needed for patient care has been diverted away from the frontline, and into the hands of private companies.

"It is time for the NHS to move away from this detrimental funding system and towards one that is more cost effective and allows vital funds to get to patients."

British Medical Association