Hanwell-based care provider suspended

But following the death of a patient in Barnet, an investigation was carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November and while the services remain suspended, NHS London is forced to pay a minimum income guarantee for the length of the five year contract even though Clinicenta is not providing services to Ealing patients or patients from the other 20 PCT areas.

And campaigners from the 'Save Our Services at Ealing Hospital' say this is money down the drain which could be used to help plug the £5billion NHS funding shortfall and prevent the threat of front-line services at Ealing Hospital being realised.

And more worryingly, as there appears to be a move towards providing home-based care and the possible downgrading of services at the hospital, concerns are growing over the use of Clinicenta in the future.

A spokesman for the campaign, said: "Tax payers' money is being thrown down the drain on the private contract yet they still want to close your local hospital to save money.

"NHS London want to run down Ealing Hospital and say there isn't enough money to keep open all the services yet they still signed a multimillion pound contract which is now paying Clinicenta while services in West London are suspended.

"Unlike NHS services which are paid by results, private providers have an agreed minimum income already paid so Clinicenta is doing rather well - being paid while doing nothing for the money."

An NHS London spokesman said: "The out-of-hospital services provided by independent contractor Clinicenta in north London were suspended on 11 November 2009 until further notice.

"Every effort has been made to ensure minimal disruption to patient care.

"Prior to suspension, there were a small number of patients [51] being cared for by Clinicenta out-of-hospital services within north London.

"All have now been transferred to the appropriate NHS provider to allow their care to continue uninterrupted.

"Our first concern is patient safety, and the decision to suspend services was taken as a precautionary measure following concerns over performance and the death of a patient.

"A full independent investigation is ongoing.

"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until it is complete.