News
Health news update
Daily Post (22 June 2009)
North Wales NHS patients offered private ops to meet targets
Up to 1,500 patients in North Wales are being offered operations at private hospitals in a bid to meet shorter waiting-time targets in the NHS. Patients waiting for orthopaedic surgery at Wrexham Maelor hospital could be switched to the town’s private Spire hospital and receive treatment from the same consultants employed by the NHS. Doctors leaders fear the practice is pumping money into the private sector, treating patients as units of production, rather than investing in the NHS.
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Healthcare Republic (18 June 2009)
PCTS must offer multi-practice contracts, says chairwoman
PCTs must offer larger contracts involving groups of practices to attract private sector providers, according to the chairwoman of London PCTs' commercial board. Sarah Crowther said contracts involving many practices and associated services would be less risky for potential providers. Discussing the use of private providers at the NHS Confederation conference in Liverpool, Ms Crowther encouraged PCT chief executives to have 'informal chats' with private firms about contracts before tender.
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