Patients are using private hospitals at the expense of the NHS. However, this is a good thing. Despite the claims by doctors this is “losing” public money to the private sector:

This is money that is being lost from the NHS.

That can compromise services and patients should be told that by going private in this way they are potentially putting care they may need in the future under pressure.

They really aren’t understanding the issue, are they? This money isn’t being “lost”, it’s being spent in a more efficient way.

When they go to these private hospitals for care paid for by the NHS, the hospital are paid at NHS cost. This means that the private hospital is providing the service at no more cost to the public purse than if the operation had been carried out by the NHS. And at the same time freeing up space in NHS hospitals and operation theatres for other patients. Thus meaning we are treating more patients. Surely this is a good thing?

Yes. Except for the NHS trusts.

What this shows is that 147 private hospitals are able to provide health services at NHS costs and make money doing it. So why are NHS trusts compeltely unable to meet the levels of efficiency of the private sector?

As patients have the choice of hospitals, including private ones, then they can get their treatment in a location best suited to them and in the fastest time possible without costing the NHS any more money. It has introduced a form of market into the NHS which encourages efficiency and puts the patient first. I’d mark this as rather a Good Thing.

However, what it does do is rather suggest hat the NHS isn’t really working. Why not change the entire existing system and have the NHS just provide pricing schemes rather than specifically running hospitals? This certainly shows that it is possible for at least a good amount of the work to be done in this way.