Alarm over NHS patients records being placed in hands of US private equity firm

Doctors and MPs urge more scrutiny of £300m deal for company behind system used by most GPs in England

A US private equity firm will take control of NHS patient records in a deal experts say should “ring alarm bells” amid concerns sensitive health data is increasingly being handed to private companies.

The investment firm TPG has bought Optum UK, the healthcare technology business behind the electronic patient record system used by most GP practices in England, in a deal worth about $400m (£300m).