Funding: Public and private sectors respond to bulk-buying allegations
The Government has hit back at reports by The Times newspaper that secret negotiations to bulk-buy private surgery are currently underway. It has slammed claims that the contracts will lead to greater profits for the private sector while failing to combat the growing problems facing the NHS.
In its report, The Times claimed a concordat signed between the Government and private hospital groups in 2000 allowing local NHS Trusts to buy private treatment has proved enormously expensive. It added that this has led to secret discussions about bulk-buying treatment in order to slash costs.
The speculation comes after David Hinchcliffe, chairman of the Health Select Committee, expressed his concern over the proposed plans. Speaking to The Times, Hinchcliffe said these resources should be invested in the NHS and its patients rather than providing profits for the private sector. Despite these claims, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said its work with the private sector was not under wraps.
"Claims that we are in secret talks with the private sector are untrue. We have made no attempts to disguise our work with the private sector, both in the past or in the future, and we are in ongoing negotiations about ways in which we can continue to cut costs," she said.
The criticism levied on the Government has also been slammed by the private healthcare sector, which believes that the move towards better public private partnership should be welcomed.
"I cannot see why bulk-buying treatment from the private sector is a bad thing. Local NHS Trusts already buy private treatment, bulk-buying simply shows the Government is being shrewd in its healthcare spend. The fact that the Government is doing more work with the private sector shows signs of progression and a move away from the notion of the NHS being a monopoly supplier of healthcare," said Dermot Cox, managing director of Carehealth.
