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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Plans for 'right' to private care | Plans for 'right' to private care |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hospital patients in England will get the legal right to be seen privately if they face NHS delays. | |
| Hospitals have to start treating patients within 18 weeks of referral - or two weeks in the case of cancer. | Hospitals have to start treating patients within 18 weeks of referral - or two weeks in the case of cancer. |
| But ministers will now give patients a legal right to private care - or treatment at another NHS centre if so desired - if this does not happen. | |
| The Tories, who would scrap waiting time targets, said it was an "unaffordable and uncosted" pledge. | The Tories, who would scrap waiting time targets, said it was an "unaffordable and uncosted" pledge. |
| Announcing the plans at a press conference on Tuesday, Health Secretary Andy Burnham also said everyone aged 40-74 would have a legal right to a five-yearly NHS health check from 2012 to assess their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. | |
| The guarantees, to come into force in April next year, will be set down in the NHS Constitution. | |
| Mr Burnham said ministers were also considering whether to give patients a legal right to chose to die at home, and to access an NHS dentist. | |
| These potential measures will be put out for public consultation. | |
| NHS waits | |
| Some patients - in fact several thousand a month - are already being treated at private hospitals under the NHS through the patient choice initiative. | Some patients - in fact several thousand a month - are already being treated at private hospitals under the NHS through the patient choice initiative. |
| This is another attempt by Labour to use the NHS as a political football Andrew LansleyShadow health secretary | This is another attempt by Labour to use the NHS as a political football Andrew LansleyShadow health secretary |
| At the start of the referral process, they are able to choose from an approved list of providers that are willing to carry out the treatment at NHS cost. | At the start of the referral process, they are able to choose from an approved list of providers that are willing to carry out the treatment at NHS cost. |
| But the new rules will allow patients to opt to switch to private care at a later date if it turns out the NHS cannot see them within the deadline. | |
| In theory, this has already been possible during the drive to cut waiting times since Labour came to power. | In theory, this has already been possible during the drive to cut waiting times since Labour came to power. |
| However, it has been incumbent on trusts themselves to arrange such steps, meaning it has not been routinely done. | However, it has been incumbent on trusts themselves to arrange such steps, meaning it has not been routinely done. |
| And since most waiting targets were met, there was little need to take such action in the first place. | And since most waiting targets were met, there was little need to take such action in the first place. |
| But the government believes that by introducing a legal right it will empower patients to hold the health service to the shorter waiting times which have now been achieved. | But the government believes that by introducing a legal right it will empower patients to hold the health service to the shorter waiting times which have now been achieved. |
| Mr Burnham said: "With this new power behind them, patients can be certain that they will receive the same high standards of care, regardless of who they are or where they live." | |
| The Conservatives have said they would scrap the 18-week target, preferring to concentrate on outcomes, such as deaths, rather than processes. | |
| 'Gaping hole' | 'Gaping hole' |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "This is another attempt by Labour to use the NHS as a political football. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "This is another attempt by Labour to use the NHS as a political football. |
| "It is the latest in a series of unaffordable and uncosted pledges that have more to do with electioneering than improving the NHS." | "It is the latest in a series of unaffordable and uncosted pledges that have more to do with electioneering than improving the NHS." |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "It's absolutely right that every person should have the right to private treatment, paid for by the NHS, if their local hospital can't provide it when they should. | Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "It's absolutely right that every person should have the right to private treatment, paid for by the NHS, if their local hospital can't provide it when they should. |
| "But the government's announcement has a gaping hole in it for those who still aren't covered by the current target regime, such as mental health patients." | "But the government's announcement has a gaping hole in it for those who still aren't covered by the current target regime, such as mental health patients." |
| The British Medical Association also said it had concerns. | The British Medical Association also said it had concerns. |
| Dr Mark Porter, of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "We have concerns that this will mean more NHS work going to private providers, with destabilising effects on hard-pressed NHS services." | Dr Mark Porter, of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "We have concerns that this will mean more NHS work going to private providers, with destabilising effects on hard-pressed NHS services." |