Dr Foster
Encyclopedia
Dr Foster is a provider of healthcare information in the United Kingdom
, monitoring the performance of the National Health Service
and providing information to the public. In 2010, the Dr Foster 2010 Hospital Guide was launched in the Observer newspaper http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/27/hospital-death-rates-nhs-dr-foster and on the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11839680.
In 2006, the UK Department of Health paid £12m for a stake in a new joint venture with Dr Foster, Dr Foster Intelligence. The following year, a House of Commons committee raised serious concerns about the legality of the acquisition, describing it as a “hole and corner deal".
The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee also released a highly critical report on the deal in June 2007. The Committee noted concerns that Dr Foster’s operation had been valued at between £10m and £15m, yet the DoH paid £12m for a 50% share of the joint venture company, Dr Foster Intelligence.
Committee chair Edward Leigh MP was reported as saying: “By pursuing its back room deal with Dr Foster LLP, the Department of Health failed in its duty to be open to Parliament and the taxpayer.” He added that Treasury guidance on joint ventures between public and private sectors was ignored – instead the deal was “handed to Dr Foster on a plate”.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, monitoring the performance of the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
and providing information to the public. In 2010, the Dr Foster 2010 Hospital Guide was launched in the Observer newspaper http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/27/hospital-death-rates-nhs-dr-foster and on the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11839680.
In 2006, the UK Department of Health paid £12m for a stake in a new joint venture with Dr Foster, Dr Foster Intelligence. The following year, a House of Commons committee raised serious concerns about the legality of the acquisition, describing it as a “hole and corner deal".
Dr Foster Intelligence
In 2006 Dr Foster Intelligence was launched as a joint venture between the UK Department of Health and Dr Foster Holdings. The company states, "Our innovative products, services and resources enable both providers and commissioners of healthcare to benchmark and monitor the quality and efficiency of health services" . The Department of Health paid Dr Foster £12m for a 50% stake in the new company. In November 2010, it was announced that Dr Foster Intelligence would be marketed for sale.Criticism of Dr Foster acquisition
In February 2007, the UK's National Audit Office published a report raising serious concerns about the joint venture. The National Audit Office was prompted to investigate by "a letter from an anonymous whistleblower who expressed concern about the legality of the joint venture" . The report concluded that the Department of Health failed to go through proper procedures and could not show value for money from the acquisition .The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee also released a highly critical report on the deal in June 2007. The Committee noted concerns that Dr Foster’s operation had been valued at between £10m and £15m, yet the DoH paid £12m for a 50% share of the joint venture company, Dr Foster Intelligence.
Committee chair Edward Leigh MP was reported as saying: “By pursuing its back room deal with Dr Foster LLP, the Department of Health failed in its duty to be open to Parliament and the taxpayer.” He added that Treasury guidance on joint ventures between public and private sectors was ignored – instead the deal was “handed to Dr Foster on a plate”.