In reply to Peter Reeves, his faith in private companies involvement in the NHS would be touching if only it was borne out by experience (Letters, March 25).

Let's look at what private companies have done and then we can understand how it is that the Government's NHS budget in recent years has been so large and yet primary care trusts are having to close wards and sack nurses.

Firstly, computer system developments - the total cost of the 10-year national programme for NHS information technology is estimated to be £12.4 billion according to a National Audit Office report. That report was two years ago, the figure is probably higher now. The private firms invited to develop it are behind schedule and looking for ways out.

Secondly, independent treatment centres - private firms taking NHS operations, like the one at Haywards Heath. Complex procedures that involve large numbers of specialist consultants or require long nursing aftercare are avoided by the conditions of the contract these companies have negotiated. These operations are left to the NHS to pay for.

Thirdly, new hospitals built by private finance initiatives (PFI). To quote from the report on PFI developments by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants: "The annual cost of capital for PFI projects rises by at least £45 million over and above the cost of a new hospital financed under the Government's capital charging regime, even though the hospitals are considerably smaller than the ones they replace."

In short, PFI projects cost more than hospital developments funded through Government borrowing.

Private companies pursue profit.

That is their goal. Putting the overall health of the nation first is not on their agenda. Instead of privatising the NHS, we could be building our own hospitals and still give nurses a decent pay rise.

  • Ken Kirk, Tower Road, Brighton