The controversial plans would involve trusts conceding control of the hospitals to a third party.

The move has been prompted by new PFI accounting rules which will come into force next year. The rules will see most PFI schemes move onto the public sector's balance sheet.
 
The Department of Health is concerned that adopting the rules could put NHS trusts in debt. It has estimated an otherwise financially healthy trust may take 10 years to recover from the change.