US private equity firm TPG has bought Optum UK, the healthcare technology business behind the electronic patient record system used by most GP practices in England, in a deal worth about $400m (£300m), prompting concern from doctors and MPs.
Key facts
- US investment firm TPG has bought Optum UK in a deal worth about $400m (£300m).
- Optum UK runs the electronic patient record system used by most GP practices in England.
- Doctors and MPs are urging more scrutiny of the deal.
- Experts say the deal should 'ring alarm bells' over sensitive health data.
- Concerns focus on health data increasingly being handed to private companies.
A US private equity firm is set to take control of NHS patient records in a deal that experts say should “ring alarm bells”, according to the Guardian. The concern centres on sensitive health data increasingly being placed in the hands of private companies.
The investment firm TPG has bought Optum UK, the healthcare technology business behind the electronic patient record system used by most GP practices in England. The Guardian reports the deal is worth about $400m (£300m).
Doctors and MPs are urging more scrutiny of the transaction, reflecting unease about the growing role of private firms in managing NHS-related data and technology.
Because Optum UK is the company behind the record system used by most GP practices in England, the change of ownership has drawn particular attention to how patient information will be handled going forward.
The Guardian notes that experts have warned the deal should “ring alarm bells”, framing it as part of a wider trend of sensitive health data being handed to private companies.
Why it matters
The electronic patient record system involved is used by most GP practices in England, meaning the ownership of this technology touches a large share of the population's health data. Questions over who controls sensitive medical records, and how they are safeguarded, are central to public trust in the NHS.
Frequently asked questions
Who has bought Optum UK?
According to the Guardian, the US private equity investment firm TPG has bought Optum UK in a deal worth about $400m (£300m).
What does Optum UK do?
Optum UK is the healthcare technology business behind the electronic patient record system used by most GP practices in England.
Why are doctors and MPs concerned?
The Guardian reports that doctors and MPs are urging more scrutiny amid concerns that sensitive health data is increasingly being handed to private companies, with experts saying the deal should 'ring alarm bells'.