Circle Healthcare, which is the first private firm to manage an NHS hospital, has claimed that it has transformed th Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire from the worst-performing to the top-performing hospital in Cambridgeshire for treating emergency patients.

The private firm has published a 16-point plan at the time of taking over the unit, whose staff and assets remained in state control, outlining how it plans to transform the hospital. The plan included cutting paperwork, giving staff greater autonomy as well as appointing a chef from a restaurant to cook the food at the hospital.

Circle said that it is the first of its kind scheme and has extended an invitation to everyone working at Hinchingbrooke to take part in the initiative.

Circle Health had bagged a £1 billion contract to take over the running of Hinchingbrooke hospital in Cambridgeshire. The private firm had said that it is looking to acquire more NHS hospitals but admitted that patient care might be affected.

The debt-ridden Hinchingbrooke Hospital would have faced a closure without the takeover. The Hinchingbrooke was earlier facing a closure in 2006 but was saved by a public campaign that year. However, its debt increased to £ 39 million and the hospital was loosing £4million a year.

The model could be replication in other places to improve the efficiency of the NHS and meet cost saving targets.