NHS EXAMINES NEW DEAL WHIT PRIVATE HOSPITAL TO CLEAR WAITING LIST

Financial Times - Private hospitals taken over by the government during the Covid-19 crisis are in talks about extending the arrangement for up to two years, as the NHS attempts to relieve growing pressure on patient waiting lists. Although more of the capacity has been used since mid-May as the peak of the pandemic passed in the UK, a significant proportion of the 8,000 beds supplied by 26 private hospital groups, including HCA International, BMI/Circle Healthcare, Ramsay Healthcare, Spire Healthcare and Care UK went largely unused as the health service coped with the surge in patients suffering from the disease. But with the NHS now facing a possible patient backlog of almost 10m by Christmas, the government is in discussions with the private healthcare providers about a new deal that could have lasting implications for Britain’s private healthcare sector. One option being discussed is for NHS ...>>>