Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Letters

Private finance initiative

BMJ 2000; 320 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7229.250 (Published 22 January 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;320:250

Rapid Response:

Lesser of two evils

Dear Editor - McGinty's letter regarding the Hereford PFI scheme is
potentially misleading.

Hereford's hospital clinicians were presented with the option of accepting
a new hospital on one site but with fewer beds, or continuing on three
separate sites in obsolete and decaying buildings. The clinicians
reluctantly accepted the PFI as the lesser of two evils.

We believe a hospital of 340 rather than 250 beds would best serve the
needs of the population and this view is now vindicated by the National
Beds Inquiry.

E J Barton - Chairman Hospital Medical Committee

Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust, The County Hospital, Union Walk, Hereford
HR1 2ER

McGinty F. Partnership between private and NHS is not necessarily
wrong BMJ 2000; 320: 250-251 (22 Jan)

Competing interests: No competing interests

25 February 2000
E J Barton