Anybody know who the 5 Bidders are then ???

1) Care UK
2) Circle Health
3) Interhealth Canada
4) Ramsay Health Care
5) Serco Health

"And the winner is ..."! Sorry, you'll need to wait until October for the winning bid to be announced. Yes, why so long?

Serco has Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as a junior partner.

Apparently, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust (which includes Addenbrookes) was also planning to bid, but pulled out earlier this week.

But there is also the possibility of a sixth ... Dowman Hannis Associates (if only Big Tony can raise the bid bond ... you may need to sell the car, Mate). But, come to think of it, maybe we'll just keep our powder dry and simply wait for the biomed sub-contract.

OK, but what what about all this? The thin end of the wedge? Will we be seeing our public hospitals owned by that most loved and admired group of troughers ... the Bankers?

But whatever the reality of the outcome, you can bet your life it will be hailed as a "success" ... simply because it's what the politicians want. Others, of course, disagree.

If somewhere is going to get taken over you could do worse than Ramsay. They are an Oz company who moved into the private hospitals business in the UK a couple of years back, they are also my biggest client and frankly, a good group to work for/with. Positive, forward looking and prepared to invest. They also treat their staff very well!

Weren't they the people who brought us "Neighbours"?

Ummm ... no thanks.

One Canadian Company. Another Australian. The other who used to be the Public Works Department that "maintained" army camps and such. Frankly, I'm wondering how come Virgin or Tata (or Tesco) didn't bung in a bid, as well!

One final observation though ... I notice we don't have any "Euro Zone" bidders here. Surely that's a box that needs to be ticked?

OK ... it's the weekend (in England, at least). So how about some thoughtful responses to this thread?

Depressed already? OK, perhaps this will cheer you up!

Too depressing to wade through all that? OK, here's a "highlight":-


And here is the comment that caught my eye:-

1) I spend my money on myself
2) I spend my money on you
3) You spend my money on yourself
4) You spend my money on him

Which case gets the best result? Which the worst (perhaps we should have a poll)?

Yep, same people who brought you Kylie in hot pants

YES PLEASE !

No thanks, Dave. We have enough tacky home-grown so-called "celebrities"* of our own, displaying their assets for all to admire daily, as it is.

* Not the word that I normally use, of course.

The last I heard on this one was that it's now a contest between the final two contenders:- Circle and Serco. And that a decision on the winner is due in December.

Here is the latest news on this one.

Note that you can add comments on there (as well) if you like!