Health & Science blog

Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has bought a controlling stake in Assura Group, the NHS walk-in centre operator. Mr Branson has been considering setting up a Virgin Healthcare for some time. But what is far from clear is whether this increased competition will lead to better services for patients. There is a just published Civitas Report which essentially concludes that the NHS has ended up in a “lose-lose” situation. The report praises reform for producing a more business like culture in the NHS. But, looking at the example of Mid Staffordshire outlined in the post below, there are lots of business effects which are not good for patients. I am worried that increasing competition is good for articulate, motivated able people, but less good for everyone else.