Review of NHS Foundation Trust private work – time to end the public subsidy‏

The Guardian assesses the Government’s decision to review restrictions onincome from private patients in NHS Foundation Trusts. It suggests that atough stance by the Government could provide a clear dividing line between Labour and the Tories on the NHS.  This requires the Government to face down the Foundation Trust lobby which is threatening to take legal action at the European Court of Justice in the event that UNISON succeeds in its judicial review of the way in which the cap has operated since 2003.

The Health Service Journal found that over 30% of private patients were being undercharged – effectively a cross subsidy from NHS funds. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/17/cap-nhs-private-work-foundation-trusts The Government is calling for submissions to the review by 31 December 2009: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_107951.pdf

For the background to UNISON judicial review application read: http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2009/11/unison-high-court-challenge-to-nhs.html