PRIVATE HOSPITAL TO BE PAID £10BN TO EASE NHS WAITING LISTS

Financial Times - Private hospitals in England will be paid up to £10bn over the next four years to treat NHS patients in a bid to relieve pressure on long waiting lists at public health centres that have been overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic. NHS England said it would award a series of contracts to private hospital groups by November to help ease a predicted patient backlog of almost 10m by Christmas as Covid-19 has interrupted services such as elective surgery, routine screening, diagnostics and cancer treatment. Business groups have been invited to pitch for the contracts next month. The total value of the contracts is expected to be £10bn, according to a government procurement notice. NHS England said: “Tens of thousands more people will be able to benefit from quicker access to surgery and other procedures...>>>