Why We Must Stop NHS Commercialisation
Millions paid to private clinics for doing nothing
Research by Professor Allyson Pollock of Edinburgh University estimates that £927m - almost two thirds - of the £1.5bn spent on private centre contracts in England could have been paid out for operations that did not take place.
Recent figures from a centre run by Care UK in Nottingham support her findings. Over the last five years, almost £10m was paid to the Barlborough Treatment Centre, but only £4m worth of procedures have been carried out.
Private treatment centres paid above the odds
The Department of Health has also admitted that across the first 20 private treatment centres the cost of procedures was 12% more expensive than the same work in the NHS.
Health industry website Pulse has reported that the cost of privately-run GP-led health centres are averaging as much as seven times more per patient than standard NHS centres.
NHS picks up the bill for bodged operations
A study by surgeons in Cardiff has shown that people having hip replacements at private treatment centres are up to 20 times more likely to need painful and expensive repair work. Many operations are having to be redone in NHS hospitals, often with serious cost and staffing implications.