The new Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, has recently announced new controversial plans, which will mean that millions of patients will be treated at private hospitals and treatment centres. The NHS is to spend £3 billion over 5 years to buy around 2 million operations, in order to help the government achieve its target of cutting the maximum wait for treatment to 18 weeks by 2008.
The new plans include independent treatment centres operating on patients needing orthopaedic or general surgery, treatment for ear, nose and throat problems and urological conditions. The government hopes to secure better financial terms by bulk buying hospital places instead of allowing private health trusts to pay higher 'spot purchase' prices.
These new plans will be called the 'extended choice network' and intends to give NHS patients a choice of 5 hospitals, including one from the private sector, for treatment by the end of the year.
Our view
The reality is as we age as a population, the NHS will not be able to cope, more and more will be referred for state funded private treatment. Expect more of the same. If this means you get treatment sooner then all the better.