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NHS plc

As more of the health service is opened up to private providers, what does this mean for patient care and accountability? The Guardian examines the companies who are taking over crucial services and how this is affecting those who work in the NHS and the patients who use it

  • Care UK staff

    NHS service providers' financial positions are weak – at best

    Ramsay Health Care, Virgin Care, Harmoni, The Practice, Circle and Care UK cannot be treated as going concerns without the financial support of their parent companies
  • Maeve O'Connor

    When privatisation of GP practices goes wrong

    For many patients, doctors and local politicians, the privatisation of surgeries has been a far from positive experience

  • Doctor with medical equipment

    NHS: 'a significant rise in outsourcing' under Cameron - audio

    Felicity Lawrence asks Tim Williams, managing director of Millstream, which monitors public procurement announcements, to describe the increase in outsourcing in the NHS under the coalition government

  • Doctor takes a patient's blood pressure

    Patient care at risk as GPs are asked to cut services

    While ministers say costs are being reduced via 'efficiency savings', GPs are being asked to cut services to patients
  • Royal Marsden

    NHS trusts are enmeshed in private provision – as buyers and suppliers

    FOI requests reveal NHS hospitals spending millions buying beds in private hospitals or profiting from patients who pay

  • St Göran hospital in Stockholm

    Private healthcare: the lessons from Sweden

    The UK centre right has looked on enviously as Sweden has privatised much of its health service in recent years
    • Texts sent by Harmoni to doctors and nurses

    • Are private healthcare providers putting patient care at risk? - video

    • Former Harmoni clinician warns of 'dangerous' pressure on appointments

  • Clare Secker, 19, who died of bronchopneumonia in 2008, pictured with son Tyler

    Family sues out-of-hours GP provider and nurse over death liability

  • Doctor and Patient

    Harmoni out-of-hours GP service putting patients at risk, say doctors

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