By Sally Nancarrow BBC News, South East

Adrian White is chairman of Biwater and owns Denbies Vineyard

A businessman whose charitable trust is trying to buy a Surrey hospital says he believes the idea may represent the future for the NHS.

Multi-millionaire Adrian White's �20m plan for Epsom District Hospital could lead to major redevelopment of the site and state-of-the-art new facilities.

But he admits some of the services could be for private patients only.

"We can no longer afford the NHS to be free at the point of delivery for those who can afford to pay," he said.

"The NHS cannot possibly finance the advances in technology and medicine to make everything available to all patients."

Mr White's vision for Epsom sees a not-for-profit charitable trust becoming landlord for a full range of consultant-led specialities.

It is a proposal that is being "looked at" by the NHS trust involved but the largest health union has said it is very cautious.

Cardiac unit

Mr White's Denbies Hospital Trust already owns the hospital's Denbies wing, which houses A&E and the South West London Orthopaedic Unit.

"What I would like to do is extend that across the whole site," he said.

He said the Cleveland Clinic, which runs several hospitals in America, is interested in setting up a cardiac unit at Epsom.

Many of services would be provided by private companies from which the NHS would purchase care.

"We would like it to still be the local hospital for people living in Epsom," said Mr White.

"Their GP could still refer them for the NHS services that remain on site."

DENBIES TRUST PROPOSAL Maintain orthopaedic unit (currently 100% NHS financed) New Cleveland Clinic cardiac unit (privately financed) Major walk-in GP unit serving local community 24/7 Full maternity and paediatric service Trauma A&E

Under the proposal, trauma A&E would return to Epsom, funded by a 5% commitment to charitable work by private providers on the site.

The NHS would be paid the capital value of the site, which would be decided by the district valuer.

"We believe we would save the NHS �10m in running costs a year," said Mr White.

Engineer Mr White is chairman of Biwater, a water treatment company he set up in 1968 which now operates in 60 countries from its Dorking HQ.

The father-of-five runs a local vineyard, is a former BBC governor and, until April, High Sheriff of Surrey.

But it was six years as chairman of the former Epsom Hospital Trust which gave him expertise in the health field.

Epsom has an A&E but ambulances take trauma cases to St Helier

The Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust is part-way through an 18-month drive to save �24m. It will involve job losses and bed closures.

Already, emergency and trauma surgery has been transferred to St Helier's A&E in Carshalton, south-east London.

The trust wanted to transfer maternity and in-patient paediatric services from Epsom to St Helier but has put the move on hold.

"We know that excellence exists within the NHS but the current environment is preoccupied with restructuring and cash," said Mr White.

He said several meetings had been held with Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust, which had asked for more clarification.

Epsom and St Helier Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed it was considering the Denbies Trust proposal.

"We need to understand a lot more about the services that would be provided and the finances." said spokeswoman Claire Grant.

"When that has been looked at (the details) will be put before the NHS trust board."

Surrey is already home to the first of a new breed of healthcare providers.

We understand where they are coming from but it is not going to work Michael Walker, Unison

Central Surrey Health, a not-for-profit enterprise formed last year by 700 nurses and other health workers, provides services for Epsom General and Surrey Primary Care Trust.

It has held talks with the Denbies Trust and has said it is "very interested" in further discussions in the future.

Mr White has said many NHS staff would be re-employed under his proposal.

A spokesman for Unison, the public sector union which represents NHS workers, said it would be very cautious about such a development.

"It would be a fundamental move away from the NHS," said Michael Walker, regional officer for South West London.

"We understand where they are coming from but it is not going to work.

"I don't think NHS managers would buy back the services that they expect.

"Our focus must be on trying to defend NHS services in Epsom."