CAMPAIGNERS criticised the head of NHS England today after she backed the return of discredited private finance initiative contracts. 

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard floated the controversial idea as part of what she called a “radical” rethink in how Britain funds its infrastructure.

Recent data shows that the cost to repair Britain’s crumbling NHS buildings has spiralled to £13.8 billion, the highest on record.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday, Ms Pritchard said: “We need to think much more radically, particularly about capital.

“So I think we now must consider private capital investment in the NHS because if we don’t fix our buildings, if we don’t fix our technology, we’re not going to get to a place where we can really drive that long-term improvement.”

The suggestion was slammed by anti-privatisation group We Own It.

Research by the group found that the current maintenance backlog bill is dwarfed by a £44bn debt that 80 trusts still owe to private firms for historic PFI contracts signed off by Tony Blair’s government.

Seventy-eight of the trusts had already paid off the initial capital investment.

But it found that on average, NHS trusts were having to pay back almost eight times the initial PFI capital put into their trusts.

In the case of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, it is having to pay back £1.1 billion, 27 times the £40 million that was borrowed.

Johnbosco Nwogbo, of We Own It, said: “Private finance has been a complete disaster for our public services. 

“Even the Conservatives banned any new PFI contracts in 2018.

“New PFI deals will drain the health service of cash it desperately needs to fix buildings and hire new staff.

“We must not further weaken the NHS by reopening the door to vulture capitalists

“We need NHS leaders who can deliver on patient care today, without selling out our future generations. 

“By taking this stance, Ms Pritchard has shown she is not up to the job.

“She must resign. If she does not, [Health Secretary] Wes Streeting should remove her immediately.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.