NHS to go head to head with private sector

There has been a mixed reaction to the news that NHS hospitals will now have the cap lifted on the amount of private work they can carry out.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has said that he expects to build a vibrant industry around the new reforms, with foundation trust hospitals able to compete with private sector providers for work.

This view is shared by some of those who represent these trusts, with Sue Slipman of the Foundation Trust network saying: “We will have to wait to see what exactly happens, but there are huge opportunities to innovate.”

However a body which is funded by public sector unions, Health Emergency, has that expressed concern that it could mean that NHS hospitals are overstretched by covering extra private sector work.