OFT queries PMI hospital deal

Recently formed private hospital firm Circle has asked the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to review deals between big private hospital providers and insurance companies such as Bupa, AXA/PPP and Aviva, the Times reports.

It says the insurers control almost 80% of the market between them, and their dealing with key private hospital chains – refusing to pay for treatment elsewhere - could be anti-competitive.

Four private hospital companies — General Healthcare Group, Spire, Nuffield Health and Ramsay Health Care — provide more than 60% of Britain’s £3bn private healthcare market, the Times says.