Social Investigations Lords research appears on Russia Today

The research conducted by Social Investigations has made it on T.V.

It may be too little too late to stop the bill, but at least the message is getting out there. The more people know about this, the better. For over a month the connections to Lords and companies involved in private healthcare was made available through twitter and the blog. Throughout the course of the research,  and as it became increasingly clear that the members of the upper chamber were riddled with self-interest, we kept informing mainstream media along with other Twitterers that they should publish the information.

None of them did.

Russia Today have now run this important story and good that it is getting out there, but why not the UK media? The law remains unchanged, Lords remain able to vote on bills regardless of their self-interest.

It is unacceptable.

Please sign the petition here to stop Lords voting on self-interest, and spread the message wide: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31991 

142 Peers have Financial Links to Companies Involved in Private Health Care

The investigation into the registered interests of the House of Lords members has revealed serious flaws in our democracy whereby Lords who have outside financial interests are allowed to vote on a bill that may benefit them.

As the Health and Social Care bill went through the upper chamber, Social Investigations highlighted the various members and their financial links to companies involved in private healthcare. These Peers across all parties have a mixture of interest, which include shares in private healthcare companies; being chairman, consultants, and senior advisers to investment groups funding the vultures ready to swoop.

At best this is self-interest, at worse this is institutional corruption and is a part of the same problem that just came to light over the donation scandal. We are not in this together, they are out for themselves and the corporations they serve.

One rule for others, one for them:
If you are a councillor at local government level with financial interest or a partner with financial interest, then they must declare a ‘prejudicial interest’, then they must leave the room and take no further part in discussions or voting. In many cases this is left down to the discretion of the elected member but with the knowledge that this will be challenged somewhere down the line. Why are the Lords not treated in the same way?

Petition:
An e-petition has been set up which is here - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31991- if you can please sign it to stop Lords voting on their own interests, this would go some way to prevent their behaviour.

The numbers:
In total there are 141 Peers that have these connections, representing 17% of the total. The Conservatives who created the bill and in many quarters want to see the NHS dismantled had over a quarter of their members with these self-interests. This is intolerable.  In addition to this the Liberal Democrats who have allowed this bill to go through have one in ten with these interests. This may well be the least, but none of them should have been allowed to vote. However the self-interest is across the board with one in six Crossbench peers and one in six Labour peers having these interests. This means we must watch them if they get back into power in case they try and water down any repeal.

When we look into more detail, as I did for Baroness Cumberlege, Virginia Bottomley and Lord Chadlington the behaviour and the clear conflict becomes apparent.

Conservatives: 1 in 4 – see full list
Liberal Democrats: 1 in 10 – see full list
Labour: 1 in 6 – see full list
Crossbench: 1 in 6 – see full list

To view full list of peers with financial interests in private healthcare companies click here.

The investigations will continue, with certain Lords and companies being looked at in more detail. If you are a journalist or member of the public who has any information then please contact me at: andrewfiskar (at) gmail.com

One in Six Labour Peers have financial interests in companies involved in Private Healthcare

If the Labour party are to make sure they are in a stronger position to criticise the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats over healthcare privatisation, then they need to have a word with some of their own Peers before the election.

In the last piece of research into peers of all parties, Social Investigations can reveal that amongst the Labour party, 37 out of 238 Lords have financial interests in companies involved in private healthcare. This represents 15% of the total, which amounts to 1 in 6, which is the same percentage as the Crossbench Peers; less than the Conservatives, but more than the Liberal Democrats.

The party, which moved to the right under Tony Blair, is in no position to thrown stones. As with all the other parties, the connections vary. Some have shares in companies; others are directors, advisors or chairman. Some of the peers work for a Conservative peer owned company, just like a Liberal Democrat peer has shares in a Conservative owned party.

Labour has promised to repeal the bill, if that is so, then great, but how many of their own Peers will be that keen to do so on this list? Although they towed the party line on this occasion, will some of them be internally negotiating to water down any changes if Labour gets back into power?

An e-petition has been set up which is here - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31991 - if you can please sign it to stop Lords voting on their own interests, this would go some way to prevent their behaviour.
 

Labour Lords

1. Baroness Billingham: Regular contributions to Cumberlege Connections a training company for training NHS personnel and is a political networking firm that works "extensively" with the pharmaceutical industry.

2. Lord Carter: The head of the increasingly influential Competition and Cooperation Panel, is an adviser to Warburg Pincus International Ltd, a private equity firm with significant investments in the healthcare industry. Chairman Patrick Carter, or Lord Carter of Coles to give him his full title, was the founder of Westminster Health Care, a leading private nursing home company. He is also the Chair of McKesson Information Solutions Ltd, which delivers IT to “virtually every NHS organisation”, the chair of Primary Group Ltd, a Bermudan based private equity company, and a substantial shareholder in, among other companies, B-Plan Information Systems Ltd, which has also benefited from the increased need for large scale IT systems that the introduction of an internal market to the NHS has brought with it (see the interview with Frank Wood, of King’s foundation trust, where B-Plan has worked, in the last news update). Carter’s register of interests in the House of Lords also lists him as an adviser to Warburg Pincus International Ltd, a private equity firm, which has significant investments in the healthcare industry. It even rescued United Healthcare from financial ruin in 1987 and helped it to become one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. He can now help it to become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the government’s reforms. - http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3934

3. Viscount Chandos: Director of investment management company Sand Eire limited - who invest amongst other sectors, in Healthcare. 

4. Lord Darzi: Former surgeon drafted into government as a health minister by Gordon Brown when he was PM. Now an adviser to medical technology firm GE Healthcare.

Quotes on bill: he would find it 'difficult at this stage' to vote for blocking the Bill...'I am speaking as a surgeon, not a politician.'

5. Lord Davies of Abersoch: A non-executive Director of Diageo. Lansley used to hold a directorship at Profero who had Diageo as one of their clients. Diageo plc are an alcohol drinks company who have been awarded money to teach midwives in England and Wales on the dangers of alcohol. Vice Chairman and partner in Corsair Capital llc, who have amongst others Axis Capital holdings in their portfolio, providers of healthcare insurance products. Shares in HSBC who are heavily involved in PFI hospitals. 

6. Lord Eatwell: Economic Adviser at Warburg Pincus & Co International Ltd, a private equity firm with significant investments in the healthcare industry. Economic advisor to Palamon Capital Partners LLP, who also heavily invest in private healthcare.

7. Lord Elder: Advisor to pharmaceuticalcompany Daval International Ltd

8. Lord Evans of Watford: Director of ­healthcare property firmCare Capital.

9. Lord Filkin: Adviser to outsourcing giant Serco, heavily involved in NHS services.

10. Baroness Ford: Chairman of private healthcare company, Barchester Healthcare Ltd. Part of the NHS Partners Network. Chairman of Grove Ltd, a holding company for for Barchester Health.  

11. Lord Gavron: Has shares in Serco, Smith & Nephew plc, Diageo, Unilever, Astrazeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Rhoen-Klinikum AG (private healthcare), Roche Holdings AG, Fresenius Medical Care AG, Sanofi-Aventis, Vodaphone Group plc, Prudential Life.  

12. Lord Goldsmith: Partner in International law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, whose clients include: Bayer; Bristol Myers Squibb; Forest Laboratories; Galderma; GlaxoSmithKline; Hisamitsu; Johnson & Johnson; Merck; Nestlé; Novartis; L’Oréal; Pfizer; Schering-Plough; and Tenet Healthcare, among others.'

13. Lord Grocott: Trainer at Cumberlege Connections Ltd: (See Baroness Cumberlege).

14. Lord Harris of Haringey: Former senior adviser to business services giant KPMG, who are heavily involved in implementing changes in the NHS and its commissioning groups Wyeth Pharmaceuticals 2001. Remunerated by Cumberlege Connections Ltd for occasional participation in training events. See Baroness Cumberlege. One client Airwave through his own company Toby harris Associates provides services to Ambulance and health.

15. Lord Hollick: Has shares in multiple companies involved in healthcare, which include: Diageo, Ambea, HCA, Capsugel.  

16. Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Consultant and Trainer at Cumberlege Connections Ltd: See Baroness Cumberlege.

Lord Hutton of Furness: Ex-health minister is an adviser to law firm Eversheds. Clients include care homes and private hospitals.

17. Baroness Jay: Occasional participation in seminars for Cumberlege Connections.  Company that is a training company NHS personnel and a political networking firm that works "extensively" with the pharmaceutical industry. 

18. Lord Kestenbaum: Member of the board of directors of marketing agency Profero. Andrew Lansley was a director of Profero until the end of 2009. Diageo an alcohol company was one of their clients which went onto to be awarded a contract to talk about alcohol to midwives so that they can advise Mothers. Profero have contributed to the NHS Change4Lifecampaign to get more people to exercise.

19. Baroness Kingsmill: Non-executive director of Korn/Ferry International, an executive recruitment firm. Among the diverse range of healthcare organisations they have secured and developed top healthcare executives for are in hospital systems, multi-specialty physician practices, pharmacy benefit management companies, long-term care/assisted-living companies, home health companies, healthcare associations, and other service delivery companies. Two other peers work for them. Deputy Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, which claims to have “been at the heart of shaping ­[healthcare] reforms and working with clients to respond to the opportunities they present”. 

20. Lord Leitch: Bupa chairman. Non Exec director of Bupa.

21. Baroness Liddell: Associate member of Bupa. 

22. Lord McConnellof Glenscorrodale: Member of the advisory board to accountants and auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers. See Baroness Kingsmill.

23. Baroness McDonagh: Non Executive Director of Standard Life plc, which offers private health insurance.

24. Baroness Mallalieu: Has shares in Diageo (See Andrew Lansley), and pharmaceutical giant Reckitt Benckiser. Shares in Oryx International a closed-end investment company incorporated in Guernsey, which invests in healthcare. 

25. Lord Malloch-Brown: Chairman of FTI Global Affairs an advisory firm, which helps companies in the healthcare sector amongst others. On his appointment in 2010 he said: "Lord Malloch-Brown said, "The global economy has reached a tipping point, with Western companies under great pressure to shift their footprint towards emerging markets."

26. Lord Mandelson: Senior Advisor at Lazard Ltd, an international advisory investment bank, which includes the area of healthcare.

27. Lord Moonie: Advisor for Edinburgh-based healthcare and biosecurity company Americum. Former senior advisor to pharmaceutical company Pharmathene Ltd. Lord Moonie, previously accused in cash for influence scandal.

28. Baroness Morgan of Huyton: Ex-director of failed care home firm Southern Cross. Member of the advisory Committee board for Virgin Group Holdings Ltd.

29. Lord Myners: Non-Executive Director of RIT Capital partners plc, who according to their annual reportinvest extensively in healthcare. Also has shares in company.

30. Lord Noon: Director of Nutrahealth plc is a holding company which is 100% owned subsidiary of Elder Pharmaceuticals Ltd, an Indian based healthcare company since November 2010. The businesses operated in the UK are Biocare, Brunel Health and Totally Nourish.  Shares in Casualty Plus Ltd - private walk-in clinic.

31. Lord Prescott:  Fee received from Civica plc (25 January 2012) as payment for taking part in a panel discussion at a conference hosted by Civica at the Manchester International Conference Centre, Manchester; travel expenses were also paid for by Civica plc

More than 70 NHS Commissioners use Civica Health & Social Care's industry standard SLAM NHS Commissioning software to help manage service level agreements with providers, including Payment by Results, local tariffs, local agreements, block payments and other variants.

32. Lord Puttnam: Director of Huntsworth communications group. global public relations and integrated healthcare communications group. Did not stand for the board this year (2012). Deputy chair of Profero (See Andrew Lansley). Senior Non-executive director of Promethean World plc a technological hardware company, which according to its annual reports a new division was created, which amongst other sectors included healthcare. 

33. Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Has shares in multiple companies involved in private healthcare including: Becton Dickinson, Hospira Inc, Vodafone plc (See Baroness James), JP Morgan (See Lord Renwick), Quest Diagnostics Inc, Johnson & Johnson.

34. Lord Sawyer: Chair of Norlife, part of a government led initiative called LIFT, set up as a partnership project in the county of Norfolk creating in part PFI projects.

35. Lord Simpson: Shares in multiple healthcare companies including Reckitt Benckiser, Standard Chartered Bank plc, GlaxoSmithKline, Vodafone plc.

36. Lord Sugar: Amscreen Plc is part of Lord Sugar’s Amshold Group of companies, which he owns. The company provides T.V screens into places where there is a captive audience and places targeted marketing alongside the other content the organisation may use. These screens are placedin GP surgeries, hospitals and dentists throughout the UK and in Europe.

Amscreen and BMI Healthcare have a contract together to sponsor live weatherfeeds to advise patients on their ‘healthcare choice’. This sponsorship deal will reach 3 million patients across the Amscreen network. Nigel Moon, Head of Marketing at BMI Healthcare has said “This advertising and sponsorship package provides us with a great opportunity to feature BMI Healthcare, our local hospitals and services to a highly targeted audience at a key time in the patient journey.” BMI Healthcare joins other leading brands such as Unilever, GSK and Pfizer who are able to reach captive audiences in GP surgeries across the healthcare network.

Now Lord Sugar’s son who runs Amscreen has teamed up with a face recognition company called Quividi. This technologywill be able to ‘determine the gender, age, date, time and volume of the viewers.’ This according to Lord Sugar’s son said “brands deserve to know not just an estimation of how many eyeballs are viewing their adverts, but who they are, too.” Maybe the public deserves to know who is monitoring them, and what is happening to this data. Maybe the public deserves to be able to go to the GP surgery and not be a target for advertisers.

Viglen Ltd – shares – company provides I.T. servicesto the NHS. supplying over 45 central and local government councils, including a number of NHS and local education authorities, just under 70,000 computers over the next two years.

Donated £333,650.84 to Labour party

37. Baroness Symans of Vernham Dean: International consultant for legal firm DLA Piper a global law firm providing lobbying services to “clients in the health and social care sectors”. DLA Piper counts Southern Cross amongst its clients and advised on the failed £12 billion NHS I.T. project.

38. Lord Warner: Former adviser to Apax Partners, one of the leading global investors in the healthcare sector. Current director of Sage Advice Ltd. Works as an adviser to Xansa, a technology firm, and Byotrol, an antimicrobial company, which both sell services or products to the NHS” and was “paid by DLA Piper, which advised ministers on the £12 billion IT project for the NHS” projects that he was responsible for when he was a government minister. Lord Warner explains his role here.

One in Ten Liberal Democrat Peers have financial links to Companies involved in Private Healthcare

The Liberal Democrats have been instrumental in helping the Conservative party realise their dream of passing through the Health and Social Care bill. A bill that failed to appear in either party’s manifesto and thus had no mandate to the voting public. The bill, which has been wholly rejected as acceptable by the health professionals who work in the NHS, citing competition and privatisation as being the major area of concern.

One in Ten Liberal Democrat peers have financial connections to companies involved in private healthcare. That is to say ten out of the 90 Liberal Democrat peers have direct financial links. This is considerably less that the One in Four Conservatives and the One in Six Crossbench Peers with such connections, with Labour Peers still to be calculated.

However, that is not to say this number is acceptable. It is not. Why are any peers with connections to companies that could benefit from the bill allowed to vote on it? 

The Liberal Democrats as a party are heavily funded by a company called Alpha Healthcare, which have been donating to the party since 2004. The company has donated more than half the money the Lib Dems have taken in major donations since the start of the election campaign. The amount they have been giving has steadily increased over time, but last year it accelerated up to £400,000. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make the connection. Research conducted by Dr Éoin Clarke on his Green Benches blog revealed how this company had changed its company registration number and business premises after the 2010 lection, which meant their most recent donations didn’t show in the Electoral Commission’s website.

Is this what we want from our democracy?

In an email exchange with Baroness Barker, which followed my sending her the list of Lords interests, she seemed to be more concerned with the technical issue of whether her colleagues had registered their interests saying: ‘Please supply your evidence that any of the people named below who have taken part in the Health and Social Care Bill have failed to declare their interests as they are required to do.’ She misses the point. 

As with the Conservative, Crossbench and as I have seen so far the Labour members, the connections to the companies vary across the sphere of influence. Some are connected by shareholdings; some are chairman, partners, advisors and directors. The merry-go-round of self-interest and the dubious methods in which power and influence affect our society must be changed, if the public are to once again trust our parliamentarians. They are after all meant to be public servants, but as the evidence accumulates, it becomes clear it is the corporations with which they appear to serve.

An e-petition has been set up which is here - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31991 - if you can please sign it to stop Lords voting on their own interests, this would go some way to prevent their behaviour.

Liberal Democrats peers with financial interest in companies involved in private healthcare.

1. Lord Alliance: Shares in Huntsworth plc - a company whose CEO is Lord Chadlington - which £15,500 to the party in August last year and has given money every year since 2008. Denied it at first but Electoral Commission found them out. The same company that had Baroness Cumberledge as one of their non-executive directors. Heavily involved in lobbying and PR.  

2. Lord Clement-Jones: Partner in DLA Piper, a global law firm providing lobbying services to “clients in the health and social care sectors”. DLA Piper counts Southern Cross amongst its clients.  Lord Clement-Jones nominated Lord Hameed for his peerage, a nomination supported by Lord Dholakia. Lord Hameed sits on the board of Alpha hospitals, part of the Alpha Healthcare (C&C Alpha/C&C business solutions) group. The Alpha group has made significant donations to the Liberal Democrat party. In 2008, Lord Clement-Jones was the party treasurer. The Times exposed Lord Clement-Jones as being the man who nominated Lord Hameed, after the peer had originally said he had 'no idea.' Ownership of Alpha is usually assigned to Bhanu Dhruv Choudhrie who were accused of brokering an israeli arms deal. 

3. Lord Lee: Shares in United Drug plc (Pharmaceuticals) - Provide home-based pharmacy care for patients covered by the NHS as a joint venture from 2009 with Medco Health Solutions. 

4. Lord Lester: Has shares in Investor AB an investment company that invests in healthcare companies amongst other sectors. One company is Gambro, a global medical technology company, which sells its products to the NHS. Voted loyally with the bill amendments.

5. Lord Rennard: Director, British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) - Voted loyally on the Health and Social Care bill - The BHTA's purpose, as a trade association, is to ensure that the market for healthcare and assistive technologies is competitive, profitable and well-regulated. They work in partnership with industry, government, and other stakeholders. Set up a communications company with his wife called Rennard & McTegart Ltd. through this company provides public affairs advice to the British Healthcare Trade Association. Rennard & McTegart Ltd provide management, campaign, communications and fund raising consultancy.

6. Lord Sharman: Is the chairman of Aviva, has directorship and Shareholdings in Aviva plc - his being chairman is not registered in the register of interests - Aviva sells health insurance and will likely benefit from any increase in privatisation - they promote how you don't have to have waiting times if you take out insurance with them. Dr Doug Wright, principal clinical consultant at Aviva Health UK, said "I think we could start to see waiting lists increase again, especially for some of the elective procedures that are within the traditional medical insurance territory," Dr Wright said. Earlier this month, a spokesman for the Association of British Insurers noted that health insurance could be a "very useful product" of which many people in the UK could take advantage.

7. Lord steel: Non-executive Director, General Mediterranean Holding SA is a Business group with activities in amongst other sectors Trading & Pharmaceuticals. The http://www.gmhsa.com/images/spacer.gifIndustrial, Trading & Pharmaceuticals part is split into two companies of interest. Meditech UK Ltd has software currently installed at ten medical facilities in the UK including the NHS. MEDITECH is the leading supplier of healthcare information systems in North America. The other company is Crescent Pharma Ltd which directly and indirectly supplies a wide range of major distributors and customers within the UK, including the NHS.

8. Lord Taverne: Chairman of private health insurer Axa Sun Life’s monitoring board. Shares in Unilever whose European venture capital arm Unilever Ventures joined with a company called Vectura to form a pharma arm to their company. Shares in GlaxoSmithKline, who provide products to the NHS. Has shares in a company called Informa which provides authoritative research and analysis and up-to-the-minute business news, comment and events for all sectors of the healthcare, medical and life sciences communities. They present their findings to clients who then invest based on their reports. Has shares in Legal and General, which provides healthcare insurance.

9. Lord Vallance: Member, International Advisory Board, Allianz SE (insurance) - company offers medical insurance. Also Member, Supervisory Board, Siemens AG - which supplies medical equipment to the NHS. Voted loyally - and against Lord Rea's proposal of declining to give the bill a second reading.

10. Lord Watson: Chairman, Havas Media UK - MPG Media Contacts is an integrated agency, 100% owned by Havas Media. In April 2011 - MPG Media Contacts won the integrated media planning and buying account for Circle Health, the healthcare partnership that runs and builds hospitals.The account is worth just under £1m, according to MPG Media Contacts, and the scope of the work covers offline and online channels in the UK.

Circle, which became the first private UK firm to run an NHS hospital last year when it won the tender to run Hinchingbrooke Hospital, plans to build a network of 30 hospitals across the UK in the coming years.

Paul Frampton, managing director, MPG Media Contacts, said: "We're proud to be working with Circle, which does an excellent job in the Healthcare sector.

"Our primary aim will be to deliver them an integrated media strategy that will bring them real value this year."

BBC chief Lord Patten of Barnes, Bridgepoint and the Conflicts of Interest

Lord Patten, the current head of the BBC has direct links to a company heavily involved in private healthcare.

Lord Patten of Barnes is a member of the European Advisory Board for a private equity investment company called Bridgepoint.

The company who also have Alan Milburn the former Secretary of State for Health under Tony Blair, as chair of the board, have been involved in 17 healthcare deals over recent years listed below. Eight of these companies remain as their current investments, which include four in the UK at a combined investment worth over £1.1 billion.

One company acquired by Bridgepoint was residential care company CareUK in a £414 million acquisition in July 2010. CareUK made the headlines in the same year when it was revealed their chairman Jonathan Nash had donated £21,000 in November 2009 to run Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s personal office.

Another deal saw Tunstall, a telehealth company with contracts in the NHS, acquired by Charterhouse Development Company for £555 million; who have another Lord Pattenas their senior advisor. Four companies were involved in the transaction, including; Goldman Sachs, Clifford Chance, KPMG, and LEK, three of which have Lords in senior positions. Lord Griffiths is a director at Goldman Sachs; Lord Harris is a senior advisor at KPMG, and Lord Wakeham is an adviser to LEK.

Further transactions for Bridgepoint and a private healthcare company involved Alliance Medical, who sold the MRI scan company for £600 million to Dubai International LLC in 2007. The sale was a weighty profit, following it’s original purchase for £90 million purchase made while Alan Milburn was working at Bridgepoint.  

Further investments by Bridgepoint into the healthcare sector look likely according to their website, which states: ‘We believe that there will be excellent growth prospects and consolidation opportunities for those private sector players that can offer flexible, efficient and innovative business models in this evolving environment.’

Lord Patten was appointed to the Lords in 2005, and before being accepted as the head of the BBC was urged by Labour in March last year, to cut back on his business activities. This however didn’t happen, as he remains a stakeholder of energy giant EDF, a member of the advisory board of BP, advisor to telecom business Hutchison Europe, as well as his advisory role in Bridgepoint. Part of the concern of his appointment to the BBC was that as a member of the Conservative party his appointment would be a political placement at the top of the organisation.

Lord Patten of Barnes didn’t vote on the Health and Social Care bill, but that he was allowed to if he so wanted to, highlights the democratic hole in the Lords rules, which fails to prevent voting despite clear conflicts of interest.

 Deals Bridgepoint have made in the healthcare sector include:

Aenova	Contract drugs manufacturer - Switzerland
Alliance Medical	Diagonostic imaging service provider - UK
Attendo	Elderly care home operator - Sweden
Care UK	Private healthcare services - UK
Clinical Solutions	Clinical decision support software provider - UK
Corin	Orthopaedic products manufacturer - UK
Diaverum	Dialysis care services group - Sweden
Finagest	Nursing home operator - France
Firstpoint	Healthcare flexible staffing agency - UK
Healthcall	Out of hours primary care and healthcare service provider - UK
Medica	Nursing home group - France
Profile Therapeutics	Inhaled drug delivery systems manufacturer - UK
Pulse Staffing (formerly Match Group)	Flexible staffing provider - UK
Robinia	Care provider for people with profound learning difficulties - UK
Rodenstock	Ophthalmic lens manufacturer - Germany
Terveystalo	Private healthcare group - Finland
Tunstall	Personal and home reassurance telecare systems provider - UK

1 in 6 Crossbench peers have financial interests in companies involved in private healthcare

The number of Crossbench peers with financial interests in companies involved in private healthcare is 31, which represents 16% of the total. The majority of those who voted, voted with the coalition. This compares to the 28% of Conservative peers with such links, and the 11% of Liberal Democrat peers. Make of it what you will.

The fact that any of these Lords were able to vote with the conflicts of interest represents a great concern for democracy. Had these peers been prevented from voting as would have been the case at local level, then the outcome for the Health and Social Care bill would have been different.An e-petition has been set up which is here - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31991 - if you can please sign it to stop Lords voting on their own interests, this would go some way to prevent their behaviour.

For more on Crossbenchers please click here:

1. Lord Adebowale: – No party - non-executive director and shares in St Vincent's healthcare consulting company that offers consultancy to the healthcare market. Their partners include: BT Health, IOCOM and AXSys.  Voted with Labour.

2. Lord Boyce: No party - non-executive director of global engineering and design company WS Atkins - who are involved in multiple PFI projects and NHS building projects including, Tayside Murray Royal Hospital, Ayrshire & Arran Community Health Trust, Cummock Community hospital, and Doncaster & South Humber healthcare.

Chairman of D Group advisory board. D Group is a business development and networking group, which according to its websiteis 'dedicated to generating revenues and promoting the objectives of its members.' They have over 70 members consisting of UK and International leading business, though they are not listed. However in their testimonial page one company is mentioned BT group plc, which is one of the largest suppliers of communications to the NHS. BT was involved in the failed NHS computer system overhaul. The testimonial of BT group PLC says 'The D Group provides effective and discreet access to influential thinkers and policy makers on important topics.' Voted on 4.9% of his time in the Lords, but managed to vote on key areas of the Health and Social care bill with coalition.



3. Lord Chorley: Hereditary - Shares in Pharmaceutical giant Astrazeneca, private health insurance providers Prudential and Legal and General and banking group Standard Chartered, which invests in healthcare companies and offers health insurance. Shares in Reckitt Benckiser,  in Unilever, and IBM, the latter supply software to the NHS.
 Voted with coalition.

4. Lord Currie of Marylebone: Formerly Labour - Chairman of Semperian, an investment vehicle, which owns a portfolio of mature Public Private Partnership investments, including hospitals. Didn't vote nor speak.

5. Lord Elystan: – Formerly labour - Has bonds held in HSBC-controlled companies - According to a Times report in 2008, HSBC made almost £100 million from managing NHS hospitals where where contractors charge taxpayers inflated bills for simple tasks, such as £210 to fit an electrical socket. HSBC has a controlling stake of several hospitals, including outright ownership of three NHS hospitals, located in Barnet, Central Middlesex, and West Middlesex. HSBC used  a legal loophole to handle the profits from PFI schemes to a tax haven in Guernsey. HSBC offer health insurance. Lord Elystan also hold shares in Santander which offers health insurance and funds heavily in healthcare projects and companies.  Voted with coalition.

6. Earl of Errol: - Hereditary - Chair on the Advisory board of software intelligence company Flexeye Ltd. The company develop security applications and platforms, which supplies the NHS. The Company's healthcarewebsite says: 'Flexeye's Health Information Tool (HIP) is a communication tool designed especially for the healthcare system.' Paid by Nihilent Technologies PVT Ltd in unspecified capacity, an IT, consulting and outsourcing company. Worked on multiple healthcare projects in multiple countries. Voted with coalition.

7. Baroness Grey-Thompson: Life peer - 'Advisory' work for official Olympic sponsors and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. The role is contractual to give internal talks to staff and PR regarding their activation programme. The programme involves, a partnership with NHS London to inspire people with a variety of long-term conditions to to understand the benefits of an active lifestyle. Has given two speaking engagements paid for by Proctor and Gamble, paid on an ad hoc basis and not contractual. Voted in opposition with Labour.

8. Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank: Life peer - Member of the advisory board of Cannacord Genuity a global capital markets division of Cannacord financial Inc. Their website states: 'Cannacord Genuity focusses on public and private healthcare companies, at all stages of development.' Voted on only two amendments.

9. Lord Hameed: No party - Chair of private secure mental health hospital group Alpha Hospitals, which is investing in a new acute private hospital in central London. Alpha hospitals. part of the Alpha Healthcare (C&C Alpha/C&C business solutions) group. The Alpha group has made significant donations to the Liberal Democrat party. In 2008, Lord Clement-Jones was the party treasurer. Lord Clement-Jones nominated Lord Hameed to become a peer. Voted in three amendments with Labour.

10. Lord Hannay: Former ambassador Advisor to Frontier Strategy Group, who provide economic consulting based on emerging markets. They list multiple pharmaceutical and healthcare companies as their clients. Has shares in Lionheart Investment Fund who offer individual or group healthcare coverage. Voted with Coalition.

11. Lord Hastings: No party - Global head of Citizenship and Diversity for global tax, Audit, and advisory firm KPMG. The firm is heavily involved in the new NHS structural changes, including GP commissioning groups. KPMG's head of Global Health and advisor to Cameron famously said the NHS would be shown 'no mercy'. Didn't vote. 

12. Baroness Hayman: Former Labour party - Has shares in Standard Chartered plc, which offers healthcare through Aviva for its customers, and general health insurance. Voted with Labour.

13. Baroness Hogg of Kettlethorpe: Former Conservative party - Chair of Frontier Economics, a consultancy that advises private sector clients on the impact of healthcare reforms and how "to shape regulatory environments". Didn't vote nor speak.

14. Lord Jones of Birmingham: Was Labour party minister of State for Trade an Investment - Chairman of software solutions company Neutrinos Concepts Ltd, which has run a couple of trials in NHS trust hospitals. He also has shares in the company. Senior advisor for HSBC plc and Chairman on the International Business Advisory board for the same bank. (See Crossbench Lord Elystan for more on HSBC). A senior advisor executive recruitment agency Harvey Nash Group plc. The Harvey NAsh 'Healthcare Practice' part of the site states: We support leading healthcare organisations in securing the right Executive...' Is an unpaid associate of Bupa. Voted with coalition.

15. Lord Kerr of Kinlochard: Independent - Member of the Investment advisory board of investment fund for Edinburgh Partners. A report by the group reveals healthcare as their main sector of interest representing 22.7% of their allocation. Largely voted with the coalition. 

16. Lord Kilclooney: Ulster Unionist - Shares in Vodaphone - Vodaphone produced a report by themselves, which showed how they can help drive efficiency in healthcare costs promoting the use of SMS texts which go via them and other mobile phone companies. South-Central ambulance service NHS trust have appointed Vodaphone UK as its communications partner. Voted largely with the coalition.

17. Lord Levene: Former Lord Mayor - Holds shares in pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, Goldman Sachs, which is heavily involved in the healthcare sector. Voted on two amendments, both with the coalition.

18. Baroness Manningham-Buller: Has given speaking engagements for KPMG, Artemis, Merck, and Standard Chartered Bank all involved in private healthcare.

19. Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge: Businessman - Chairman of Nomura International plc. Nomura code, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nomura Europe Holdings plc, who Lord Marshall is also a chairman is a leading European investment bank specialising in healthcare. Voted on two amendments, both with the coalition.

20. Lord Millett: Legal - Has shares in Diageo - (See Lord Wasserman). Shares in GlaxoSmithKline. Has never voted.

21. Viscount Montgomery of Alamein – Crossbench – shares in Astrazeneca (Pharma), Vodafione plc. Vodafone produced a report by themselves, which showed how they can help drive efficiency in healthcare costs promoting the use of SMS texts which go via them and other mobile phone companies. South-Central ambulance service NHS trust have appointed Vodafone UK as its communications partner. Shares in Standard life (private health insurance).

22. Duke of Norfolk: Hereditary - Shares in Cardionetics who sell ECG monitors. The heart monitor hardware is supplied to the NHS. Shares in Helperby Therapeutics  plc, which is developing a new antibiotic processes. Didn't vote.

23. Lord O'Donnell: Strategic Advisor to the Chief Executive of Toronto Dominion Bank, which has a healthcare area which includes health insurance cover. In addition the bank has a healthcare division covering liability. The Peer began in the Lords from 10th January 2012.

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He joined Frontier Economic (Europe) as a Senior Advisor at the end of last year to advise on ‘all aspects of Frontier’s work.’’

Frontier's involvementin healthcare includes regular advice to public and private sector institutions on ‘healthcare reform'. Frontier’s Health practice advisespublic sector and private clients on issues relating to the reform, restructuring and operation of healthcare markets.

24. Lord Owen: Former Lib  Dem – Very outspoken against the bill - Shares in Abbot Laboratories global healthcare company - supplies NHS with Lab equipment, reagents. Voted against coalition.

25. Lord Palmer: Hereditary - Shares in pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline - Voted with coalition.

26. Lord Patten of Barnes: Former Conservative - Adviser to private equity firm Bridgepoint. didn't vote.

27. Lord Powell of Bayswater: Former Conservative under Margaret Thatcher - Chairman of the advisory board of Bowmark Capital who invest in healthcareamongst other sectors. Member of the International Advisory board for health insurance providers ACE insurance. When voted, did so with the coalition.

28. Lord Quirk: Conservative supporter - Has shares in pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline and Astrazeneca and Walgreen. For more on Walgreens. Shares in Standard chartered who offer health insurance. Voted in a mixture of for and against the coalition.

29. Lord Renwick of Clifton: Ambassador under Thatcher, and Major - Vice Chairman of global Investment giants JP Morgan. his chairmanships is of both JP Morgan Cazenove and JP Morgan Europe investment banking. JP Morgan are major players in healthcare. According to their website they serve: 1,100 hospitals, 10 of the top 10 health insurers, thousands of physicians groups, top five pharmacy benefit managers, six of the top eight pharmacy retailers. Also has shares in JP Morgan. Didn't vote. Hasn't done since 2006. 

30. Lord St John: Hereditary - Non-executive Director of PharmaSys Ltd, a web-based pharmacy management system. Non-Executive Director of Albion Ventures VCT - which has multiple healthcare companies on its portfolio. Consultant for 2e2 Group plc, an IT solution provider, which has multiple contracts across the healthcare spectrum, including the NHS. Largely voted with the coalition.

31. Lord Skidelsky: Originally Labour, became a Conservative - Shares in fund managers Janus Capital Group, who invest in the healthcare sector amongst other areas.  Wrote in the Spectator in 2000, on an article titled: 'Let's go private.' In there he promotes the idea of encouraging users to get a tax-incentive to go private.  Voted on two amendments one on adult care in favour of Labour.

32. Lord Stevenson Crossbench – Former chair of HBOS from 2001-2009, during which it collapsed and seen as having "Responsibility [for the near-collapse of the bank] lies particularly with Lord Stevenson" the Banking Commission.

Lord Stevenson has a 4% shareholding in Lexington Communications– who are involved in healthcare.

Saxton Bampfylde headhunter firm, which has recruitedpeople into key positionsthroughout the NHS and state on their website "It’s our job to seek out the people who lead, shape and direct organisations."

Has shares in Aircraft Medical invent, make and sell specialised medical equipment. In  2008 they won"one of the largest Research & Development funding packages from the UK Departments of Health through the Health Technology Devices (HTD) programme." 

33. Lord Sutherland: British academic - Non-executive chairman of Scottish Care - now represents the largest group of Health and Social Care independent providers across Scotland, delivering residential care, day care, care at home, and housing support. Largely voted with the coalition.

34. Lord Turnball: Cabinet secretary to Tony Blair - Non-Executive Director of Prudential plc, who offer private health insurance. Non-executive Director of Frontier Economics, a consultancy that advises private sector clients on the impact of healthcare reforms and how "to shape regulatory environments". Has shares in Prudential plc. Voted with coalition.