NHS patient records have been placed under the control of a US private equity firm in a £300 million deal that has sparked alarm from doctors and campaigners. They called for greater public scrutiny over the transfer of millions of NHS patient records to investment firm TPG as part of it buying Optum UK — the healthcare technology business behind the electronic patient record system used by most GP practices in England. A spokesperson for the campaign group Doctors’ Association UK said: “Private equity now owns the plumbing of English general practice. TPG said: “Assertions that TPG could in any way access, control, maintain, or utilise NHS patient records are entirely false.” Keep Our NHS Public lead Dr Tony O’Sullivan said: “This is a perfect storm where key areas of the NHS are being outsourced to private corporations, putting strategic control of our NHS into the hands of US major tech and hedge funds.