Senior officials have discussed handing the management of up to 20 English NHS hospitals to overseas companies, emails released by the government indicate. Talks included plans for 10 to 20 hospitals but starting with one hospital at a time, the Observer says.

It comes as Lib Dem peer Shirley Williams said she had "huge concerns" over the NHS reform plans. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley says claims the government aims to privatise the NHS are "ludicrous scaremongering". The emails were released after a Freedom of Information request by non-profit investigations organisation Spinwatch, which monitors public relations and spin.

They are reported to show that consulting firm McKinsey was acting as a broker between the Department of Health and "international players" for contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds. One email talks about "interest in new solution for 10-20 hospitals but starting from a mindset of one at a time with various political constraints".

The Observer reported that the "international hospital provider groups" would want certain conditions regarding taking over the hospitals, such as "a free hand on staff management", but that the NHS would be allowed to "keep real estate and pensions".

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