05 December 2008
By David Meilton Many more patients are now taking advantage of centres run by private health firms to get treated on the NHS, according to the Department of Health’s latest Patient Choice survey. The survey, published on December 2, showed that in just over 12 months the number of patients opting for private hospitals had risen ten-fold to over 3,500 a month. In mid-2007, just over 300 patients per month were opting to be treated at a private hospital under the auspices of the NHS. The comparable figure for September this year was 3,634. There are now 147 private hospitals on the DoH approved list as more sign up to the tariffs required by the department. But Jacky Davis, co-chair of the NHS Consultants’ Association, said patients needed to be told about the consequences of their choices. ‘This is money that is being lost from the NHS,’ she said. ‘That can compromise services, and patients should be told that by going private in this way they are potentially putting care they may need in the future under pressure.’ Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, agreed that, as money now follows the patient, it could leave some hospitals with cash shortages. ‘It won’t be catastrophic, but some trusts could find it difficult,’ he added.
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