Tory health spokesman linked to key private health and social care provider‏

The growing role and influence of Care UK was highlighted in UNISON's 2008 report on the rise of the "public service industry" (http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/PP8917.pdf), now the Times reveals that donations from the wife of its chairman have been funding the office of David Cameron's health team.

The firm is now in receipt of more than £400m in public money every year from around 50 nursing homes (http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Deal-is-sealed-for-new.5643411.jp),
10 Independent Sector Treatment Centres (http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/4831536.Patients_give_thumbs_up_to_Stretford_treatment_centre/),
several GP practices and NHS walk-in centres (http://www.prestwichandwhitefieldguide.co.uk/news/4683704.Mobile_health_centre_at_Tesco_will_handle_120_patients_a_day/),
and around 50 local authority home care contracts (http://www.careuk.com/content/services_community_care).

It is also now bidding to be the first private firm to take over an entire NHS hospital at Hinchingbrooke, Cambridgeshire (http://www.cambs24.co.uk/content/cambs24/news/story.aspx?brand=HPTOnline&category=News&tBrand=Cambs24&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=WEED08%20Jan%202010%2016%3A54%3A34%3A850)

Questions have been raised concerning the value for money delivered by Care UK's NHS treatment centres
(http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homenews/Barlborough-boss-defends-treatment-record/article-1561444-detail/article.html) and the standards and reliabilty of its home care services
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_7990000/7990682.stm), resulting in termination of contracts in Islington, Hertfordshire and Harrow (http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/social-policy-blog/2009/12/care-uk-loses-another-contract.html).

But its profits have continued to grow, jumping 25% last year (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7aac3d16-d359-11de-9607-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1) on the back of privatisation of health and social care services, which it confidently claims is supported by 'both the UK's largest political parties' (http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/in-brief/care-uk-reports-rise-in-revenues.html). This profit stream has now attracted the interest of private equity and it it is thought that a takeover of Care UK's operations by international private equity group Bridgepoint may now be imminent.
(http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7efa9254-ee5d-11de-944c-00144feab49a.html).

It was known that Care UK ran a sophisticated lobbying operation promoting privatisation policies through bodies such as the NHS Partners Network and English Community Care Association. Now the Times reveals that donations from the wife of its chairman have been funding the office of David Cameron's health team.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6989004.ece
January 15, 2010 Private hospitals cash for Conservative health spokesman