THESE days people are rarely shocked by cuts in the number of beds and closures of hospital wards in the National Health Service.
But no one expects a private hospital to close because of increased competition.
That is exactly what has happened to Bon Secours Hospital, in Beaconsfield, which has revealed it will be shutting next month.
Private medical insurance firms BUPA and PPP healthcare also said the hospital was not good enough for their recommended list of network hospitals. They corner around 70 per cent of the private medical insurance market and without their support it is hard for any private hospital to survive.
The people of Beaconsfield, many of whom came to rely on this facility, have lost a vital part of their community.
If anything, this sad chapter has proved that health care is far from safe in the hands of the private sector. After all, what is the point of paying for peace of mind when it costs nothing to take the same risks on the NHS.
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