PFI specialist Octagon Healthcare has been slammed by MPs for making a huge profit after a refinancing deal on a hospital.

The Public Accounts Committee branded the group, which includes John Laing, Innisfree Partners, 3i Group, Barclays Infrastructure and Serco Investments, the "unacceptable face of capitalism".

The consortium made the money on the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital contract, which it was awarded in 1998, one of the first PFI agreements. After it obtained a lower rate of interest in 2000 it increased the amount it borrowed from £197m to £306m and made £116m in profit, giving just £34m back to the NHS trust.

Edward Leigh, the committee chairman, said: "We believe this to be the unacceptable face of capitalism.

"The risk of this large liability was incurred essentially so that investors could have fatter returns."