The managing director of Bupa Insurance said the National Health Service's plans to use one of the group's hospitals would not disadvantage Bupa members in any way.
The managing director of Bupa Insurance, a division of Britain's largest healthcare provider, said the National Health Service's plans to use one of the group's hospitals would not disadvantage Bupa members in any way.
Fergus Kee said that Bupa Hospitals would be using extra capacity to serve NHS patients because it had two hospitals in the Gatwick area
He said Bupa Hospitals was consolidating its treatment of private patients at the larger hospital in Gatwick Park, while the smaller hospital, in Redwood, would be used in a longer-term deal with the NHS.
The deal between the government and Bupa will see the Redwood hospital turned into a fast-track diagnostic and surgery centre over the next year.
Bupa will continue to own and manage it and is likely to continue to employ its own nurses. It is expected to treat 5,000 NHS cases per year.
The centre is part of the government's pledge to have eight such centres up and running by 2004.
Kee pointed out that the government endorsed the private sector's role in the provision of public healthcare, subject to the normal checks on quality and value to the NHS.
He said the move did not conflict with the government's aim to be the sole funder of health care.
