Government to Introduce Legal Rights to Private Health Care

As I have previously blogged the Government will today allow patients to opt to switch to private health care if the NHS cannot provide them with treatment within 18 weeks of referral (and two weeks in cancer cases).  It is expected that the Health Secretary will today announce plans to introduce a legal right that will empower patients to enforce rights which in theory they have had since 1997 when waiting list targets were introduced.

The British Medical Association has voices its concerns about the new legal rights saying that it is concerned that more NHS work going to private providers will have a destabilising effect on NHS services.

The Tories have also expressed concern over the new announcement saying that they would scrap the 18 week target referring to concentrate on outcomes rather than the processes.  It is also note worthy that the new regime is unlikely to come into place before the next general election.