Who is Frank Hester and why did he donate?
Frank Hester is the founder and chief executive of The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), a company that provides healthcare software and data services to the NHS and other countries. He is also one of Britain’s richest people, with an estimated wealth of £415m.
Hester has donated £5m to the Conservative Party, one of the largest single donations in its history. He said he wanted to support the party’s vision for a “strong, prosperous and fair” Britain2. He also praised the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and its investment in healthcare technology.
Hester has had close ties with the government for years, accompanying former prime ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson on trade missions to India and China. He also received an OBE in 2015 for his services to healthcare.
How will the donation affect the Tory election campaign?
The donation comes at a time when speculation is rife about a possible snap general election in 2023. The Conservatives have been leading in the polls, despite facing criticism over their tax hike to fund social care and the NHS.
The £5m donation will boost the Tory election war-chest, which had recorded a loss of £2.3m last year due to a drop in donations amid the pandemic. The party has raised more than £12m in the first three months of this year, compared to £4.4m for Labour and £1.3m for the Liberal Democrats.
The donation will also help the Tories counter the influence of wealthy donors backing other parties, such as Gary Lubner, a former boss of Autoglass, who pledged around £5m to Labour earlier this year. The Tories have also received a £5m donation from Mohamed Mansour, an Egyptian billionaire and former minister under Hosni Mubarak.
What are the implications for healthcare policy and ethics?
The donation raises questions about the role of private companies in the NHS and the potential conflicts of interest that may arise. TPP is one of the leading providers of healthcare software in the UK, with contracts worth millions of pounds. It has also been involved in controversial projects, such as the Care.data scheme, which aimed to share patient data with researchers and companies, but was scrapped after privacy concerns.
Some critics have accused TPP of having undue influence over healthcare policy and benefiting from favourable contracts. They have also raised ethical issues about Hester’s donation, arguing that it undermines public trust in the NHS and democracy.
However, Hester has defended his donation, saying that he has no ulterior motives and that he is proud of his company’s work. He said that TPP has helped improve patient care and outcomes, as well as saving lives during the pandemic. He also said that he respects the independence and integrity of the NHS and that he supports its values.
