I'm biased but every private sector attempt to provide NHS levels of care for NHS costs for elective surgery seems to have been a disaster.
I don't know about elective surgery but in radiology there have been a few examples of private companies taking on NHS work an bringing it in cheaper and more efficiently. Initiatives like the London Diagnostic contract and PET North have been successful. I think the key is these contracts are designed to compliment existing NHS services, not replace them. Mind you I'd still rather this money was given to the NHS.
I don't know about elective surgery but in radiology there have been a few examples of private companies taking on NHS work an bringing it in cheaper and more efficiently. Initiatives like the London Diagnostic contract and PET North have been successful. I think the key is these contracts are designed to compliment existing NHS services, not replace them. Mind you I'd still rather this money was given to the NHS.