Newsnight has found that NHS patients who have been referred to private care for hip and knee replacements fare better than the patients who receive treatment on the NHS for the same procedures. This took into account age, gender and race. There is currently only enough data to compare outcomes for these two procedures, however … [Read more…]
Nick Clegg has told MPs in angry exchanges in the House of Commons that the only privatisation of an NHS hospital has come under Labour. He was speaking about Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire while pointing at the shadow health secretary Andy Burnham. He had been sparring with Harriet Harman at PMQs who claimed the deputy prime minister … [Read more…]
Lockheed Martin, the US defence giant has bid for a £1bn NHS contract at a recent meeting hosted by NHS England, much to the dismay of doctors and NHS workers. The contract is likely to be awarded next year and is one of the biggest contracts to be put out to tender by the NHS. … [Read more…]
Private firms receive insider information about NHS contracts A campaign group have discovered that consultancy and health insurance companies have been part of a discreet group which receives regular updates from senior health service managers. This has raised alarm bells that privatisation could be on the cards sooner than expected. Spinwatch obtained the information from … [Read more…]
Labour’s Andy Burnham calls for a halt to privatisation plans Labour’s shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has urged NHS England to stop privatisation of health services until after the general election. Declaring that voters need a “proper debate” about the future of the NHS, Mr Burnham will say in a speech later today that “privatisation is being forced … [Read more…]
Health secretary emphasises talks should not be based on ideology Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has exclaimed that the debate over using private providers in the NHS is “utterly toxic”, and that poor care is inexcusable regardless of who delivers it. Speaking at a global health conference, the cabinet minister emphasised that he felt “pragmatism and neutrality” were … [Read more…]
NHS makes us proud to be British, survey shows Two thirds of the public would prefer the NHS to receive additional funding to maintain health services, according to an Ipsos MORI poll, reported in the Health Service Journal. The survey also revealed that 79% of Brits want the NHS to be protected from harmful budget … [Read more…]