Hospitals Set To Increase Private Treatment

NHS hospitals could earn up to half their income by treating private patients under plans announced by the Government.

The cap on income generated by private procedures is currently limited to a few percent, but that could rise to 49%.

Conservatives say the money will go into NHS services but critics argue the move will lengthen waiting lists and lead to a 'two-tier' health system.

The move is expected to cause more friction within the coalition with a senior Liberal Democrat warning it was part of an ideological drive that many in the party would oppose, The Times said.

Lib Dem MP John Pugh, who chairs the party's backbench committee on health policy, told the paper there were serious underlying problems with the plans.

He added: "The Conservatives over a period of time appear to want to substantially reduce the role of the state."

But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley insisted the reforms would benefit patients. He said: "Lifting the private income cap for foundation hospitals will directly benefit NHS patients.

"If these hospitals earn additional income from private work that means there will be more money available to invest in NHS services.

"Furthermore services for NHS patients will be safeguarded because foundation hospitals core legal duty will be to care for them."

Labour claimed the plans showed the Prime Minister was determined to mirror health care provision operated in the US.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "This surprise move, sneaked out just before Christmas, is the clearest sign yet of David Cameron's determination to turn our precious NHS into a US-style commercial system, where hospitals are more interested in profits than people.

"With NHS hospitals able to devote half their beds to private patients, people will begin to see how our hospitals will never be the same again if Cameron's health bill gets through Parliament."