PATIENT safety fears have been raised after a US health insurance giant sold off more than 50 GP surgeries to a private equity firm without NHS approval.

Operose Health has also been accused of breaches of contract law after the practices, mainly in London, were handed over to HCRG Care Group, formerly known as Virgin Care and owned by British private equity company T20 Osprey Midco, last December.

Local councillor Tammy Hymas, who is a patient at one of the sold-off surgeries, St Anns Road Surgery in Tottenham, north London, accused the investment firms of “looking to make a quick buck out of our NHS.”