Doctors urge Cameron to speed Hinchingbrooke takeover

NHS East of England made Circle Healthcare the preferred bider to take over the management of the ailing district general hospital but the project is still awaiting Treasury sign-off.

In a letter seen by HSJ, Hunts Health commissioning consortium chair Simon Brown wrote: “In our capacity as GP commissioners, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the impacts of this delay.

“The continuing delay in obtaining approval of the business case means that we will be unlikely to see the tangible clinical benefits and quality outcomes which we had originally envisaged for the current financial year.”

He said the approval had been expected by January this year, after the business case was submitted by NHS EoE in November.

Another letter signed by the trust’s medical director and two consultants said: “We believe the franchise would facilitate the improved productivity and better healthcare value gains which are so important in the present financial climate.”