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@serendip1959 @ChrisMayLA6 Pharmacies have been independent private businesses since at least the 19th century (the NHS just pays for NHS prescriptions). GPs were 100% private before the NHS, and still take private patients—again, the NHS pays them.

Care homes are different (most were run by local authorities until Thatcher started forcing cuts and outsourcing).

But you're making a category error between always-hitherto-private businesses contracting with the NHS, and force-grown outsourcing.