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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Plans for 'right' to private care | Plans for 'right' to private care |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hospital patients in England will get the legal right to be seen privately if they face NHS delays. | 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. | 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. |
| RIGHTS OUT FOR CONSULTATION Ministers will ask the public whether they should get a legal right to: Choose to die at homeAccess NHS dentistryPersonal health budgetsChoose a GP practice offering extended access to evening and weekend appointmentsKey diagnostic tests for suspected cancer patients within one week of seeing a GP | RIGHTS OUT FOR CONSULTATION Ministers will ask the public whether they should get a legal right to: Choose to die at homeAccess NHS dentistryPersonal health budgetsChoose a GP practice offering extended access to evening and weekend appointmentsKey diagnostic tests for suspected cancer patients within one week of seeing a GP |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 - alongside others - will be put out for public consultation. | These potential measures - alongside others - will be put out for public consultation. |
| NHS waits | 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. | 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." | 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." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Every single person who has to go into hospital or go through the difficulty of cancer will have clear rights and real power guaranteeing them quick access to care, or the offer of going private or to another NHS provider if these standards are not met." | |
| The Conservatives have said they would scrap the 18-week target, preferring to concentrate on outcomes, such as deaths, rather than processes. | 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." |