NHS trusts income from private patients has doubled

24 Apr 03
NHS trusts' earnings from private patients almost doubled in 2001/02, according to the latest figures from Laing & Buisson. The independent health care consultancy and market information specialist said private patients fees in NHS hospitals rose from

25 April 2003

NHS trusts' earnings from private patients almost doubled in 2001/02, according to the latest figures from Laing & Buisson.

The independent health care consultancy and market information specialist said private patients fees in NHS hospitals rose from 4% in 2000/01 to 7.6% in 2001/02. Total private revenues in that year was £359m, up from £334m in the previous year.

Although the revenue from treating private patients increased, as a proportion of trusts' revenues it remained steady at 0.9%.

The figures relate to the UK as a whole, although English trusts earned 95% of the private patient income. In England, trusts generate 1.1% of their total income from fees. In Scotland it is 0.1%, Wales 0.4% and Northern Ireland 0.3%.

Not surprisingly, London hospitals led the way in generating private patient fees, accounting for eight of the top ten earners.

The Royal Marsden Trust was the highest earner. The specialist cancer centre raised £19.3m in private fees in 2001/02, or 23.8% of its total income. The highest earner outside London was the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust with £12m or 4.6% of its total income.

Laing & Buisson said government plans to cap foundation trusts' private earnings would dampen NHS private work.

The Royal Marsden said around 20% of its income came from private fees and it was already working to a notional cap on this.

'Profits from this provide a significant contribution to new service development and innovation in the NHS, and to delivering a balanced financial plan for the trust,' a spokesperson said.

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