Hinchingbrooke Hospital: Circle to withdraw from contract

A company which became the first private firm to manage an NHS hospital says it wants to "withdraw from its contract".

Circle Holdings, which operates Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire, said its franchise is "no longer viable under current terms".

The move comes amid funding cuts and pressure on the casualty department, Circle said.
The Department of Health said it was "disappointed" in the decision.

Circle took on Hinchingbrooke in early 2012, as it faced closure.

It said there had been unprecedented increases in accident and emergency attendances, a lack of care places for patients awaiting discharge, and that funding had been cut by 10.1% this financial year.

Circle has made payments to the trust totalling about £4.84m and could be required to make a final support payment of approximately £160,000, the firm said.

Under the terms of its 10-year contract it has the right to end the franchise if the amount of money it has to put in to the trust exceeds £5m.

Chief Executive Steve Melton said: "This combination of factors means we have now reluctantly concluded that, in its existing form, Circle's involvement in Hinchingbrooke is unsustainable."

Circle chairman Michael Kirkwood said the decision had been made "with regret and after considerable thought".

More on this story here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-30740956

So, it looks like a case of if we can make a profit we want it, but if Circle have to invest their money they want out. More phoney capitalism from Camerons goons. Did you spot "funding had been cut by 10.1% this financial year" Cameron says the Tories have put more money into the NHS, more lies.

It'll end up like public transport. The very profitable areas ( city centres etc ) will be sold off at a premium and prices will rise. Other areas will be slowly run down and eroded providing a less than adequate service. Shame ! Back door privatisation !

Watching some of the patients being interviewed for TV last night, many of them were pleased with the care they had received and spoke very highly of nurses and Doctors. It must be worrying for the many patients who currently attend this hospital.

The NHS is stretched these days, and that is a huge understatement, but in the few times I have called on it and in particular the recent weeks and months for my father I cannot fault the service or care received. It is clear the staff are fully stretched, they are struggling but they do care, and it is not right or fair they have to work under these conditions. Money is tight but surely health (and education) should be better financed. Money is needed on the ground, yes management need decent salaries too but is the ratio correct ? Huge room for improvement I'd say. What say you ?

All the best Jan

There is a lot of abuse of the system which doesn't help. I've spent quite a lot of time in hospital environment recently and chatting to a few nurses. Even they were saying that this time of year there is a huge increase in people wanting beds. Can you believe that they expect a huge influx in the few days leading up to Xmas of relatives calling an ambulance to get elderly parents,etc, admitted so they don't have to look after them over the holiday period !
The pressure also starts with GP's. It's getting so difficult to get a routine appt now that some people just give up and go to A&E.

My Aunt was in hospital for a few days before Christmas. She had to stay for a day longer than was clinically necessary because it took 48 hours to arrange the new blister packs with her new meds in!

Yes Mo, I agree it starts with the GP's. Also people know they will be cared for properly in A&E and not just fobbed off by a busy GP who can't be bothered to check things out thoroughly.

Following on from comments made by both Mo and Zand .........

I totally agree the first port of call for many illnesses should be our GP, but they too are under tremendous pressure. You could also say Junior Doctors are under pressure and you'd be right.

The system is under pressure .... full stop, or should that be FULL STOP ?

Does anyone have any easy answers ?

I think the answer may well be No ... but it doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking for them.

All the best Jan

I wish I did have the answers, it's easy to say keep throwing money at it but that won't happen. Most of us think we pay enough in taxes now. An idea which would help in my opinion is 24hr doctors surgeries. Our local surgery is pretty much 0830-1800, 5 days a week. It's difficult getting an appt, especially if you work out of town. I think there are a lot of people who cannot get an appt so just turn up at A&E.