PFI mortgages the future of the NHS, and professionalism is at risk when profit drives the system

The society would argue it owes such a responsibility to the professions operating in medical imaging and oncology, to healthcare services in the UK and - above all - to the public.

The society is deeply concerned that the private finance initiative is ill-conceived and the present government knows it to be so. The capital technology of the NHS is in such a neglected state that large investment is needed just to stand still. But the Treasury has other priorities for the pennies in the public purse. Instead we believe that this government has reluctantly opted to retain PFI for short-term gain knowing there will be a high price to be paid later - from the public's pocket.

The society keeps asking a simple question and no satisfactory answer is forthcoming. Perhaps your readers can help - either by answering our concerns or by joining in the rising clamour.

If industry can build and equip NHS facilities and still walk away with the profits, why can't all the resources of the government do the same for less?

Public money will leak away into the private sector as the direct consequence of PFI. Major projects will being huge paybacks to industry years down the line. Often the facilities purchased through these schemes will be long redundant by the time final payments are made. The NHS will still have to renew these facilities and so is hooked into a vicious circle of remortgaging which it can ill afford.

Managers, to square the financial circle in the short term, are falling for PFI in the same way the government has - a quick fix and hang the consequences. But the public - and members of the Society of Radiographers will have to pick up the tab.

As a professional body and trade union, the society is determined the NHS should have the best technology to serve its patients. But not at this price - PFI is mortgaging the future of the NHS.

And if private industry bankrolls these technologies, it will expect to supply the staff. How long will those staff remain recognisably similar to the high-quality professionals of today's NHS? Not for long when profit drives the system. Mr Stelmach should think about that. There is no law that says a radiographer must press the button.

Stephen Evans

General secretary and chief executive

Society of Radiographers