The Labour Government's commitment to making more use of the private sector in health care is proving controversial. Opponents are concerned that it signals the end of the NHS as we know it. Yet public-private relationships are as old as the NHS. This book analyses existing relationships and the regulatory frameworks governing them. It argues that all of the relationships need to be reviewed, and that future policies in this area must take explicit account of equity goals, and take further steps to promote consumer interests. It draws on experiences in the USA, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland to show what might be possible in the UK, particularly in regulating the public-private boundary.