Failing NHS hospitals to be run by 'outsiders'

Managers from successful hospitals or the private sector will be parachuted into three "failing" hospital trusts early next year, the Government announced yesterday.

Alan Milburn, the Health Secretary, has angered Labour MPs and trade unions with the management changes at United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust, Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust and the Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham. He published a list of approved bidders for the contracts, which included eight private health companies and 62 high-performing NHS trusts.

Mr Milburn said no NHS hospital should be left to "sink or swim" or denied the best expertise. He added: "We want to share their [outside managers] skills with underperforming NHS hospitals so we can get the best from both."

"The announcement represents another step in Alan Milburn's Road to Damascus conversion to market forces," said Liam Fox, the Tories' Shadow Health Secretary.

John Edmonds, general secretary of the GMB union said: "This is privatisation through the front door."