HEALTH chiefs are in talks with a private company to fund a satellite radiotherapy unit at a Worcester hospital in what would be another controversial PFI deal.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is in talks with Catalyst to help cover the £20-£25 million costs of the unit, planned for the A&E car park at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Catalyst is the company which funded the £82 million Worcestershire Royal Hospital, which opened in 2002 as part of a private finance initiative deal, leaving the NHS with a bill 10 times higher, according to Simon Burns, Minister for Health, who wrote to Worcester MP Robin Walker in January.

Trust head of communications Rebecca Bourne said: “A number of options are being considered for the initial capital investment, including accessing any Department of Health funds which may be available and private sector funds via a PFI.

“Catalyst are one of the options identified.”

A detailed financial assessment of all the financial options will be carried out and will come before the board of directors in September.

Mr Walker said while a PFI deal should not be ruled out, it had to be in the interests of the patient and the taxpayer.

He said: “The process needs to be much more rigorous than it has been in the past. We need to be clear whether it’s good value for money for the taxpayer.

“That, along with the quality of care, is absolutely paramount. We all know the Worcestershire PFI was a badly negotiated deal.

“That’s a good reason for Catalyst to come to the table and say how they can create good value for the taxpayer.”

Dr Richard Taylor, a retired hospital consultant and former Wyre Forest MP, expressed concern.

He said: “Bringing in Catalyst is bringing in a private provider which most of us would be adamantly against.

“Any further involvement of private providers is not going to help the functioning of the NHS.”