'I will listen to everyone, whether medics or midwives, cleaners, porters or physiotherapists' said England's new health secretary Patricia Hewitt. But she added the new private contracts signaled her determination 'to continue both the direction and pace of reform.'

Two Million NHS Ops to Be Done Privately

Patricia Hewitt today announced a huge increase in the number of NHS operations to be carried out by the private sector. A Pounds 3 billion deal will see healthcare companies undertake an extra two million NHS operations a year.

Unveiling the contracts, the new Health Secretary signaled there would be no letup in Labour's reforms. She said use of the private sector was necessary to help the Government achieve its target of cutting maximum waiting times to 18 weeks by 2008.

Under the deal, the Pounds 3 billion will be spent over the next five years to perform 1.7 million NHS operations -- mainly elective surgery such as hip and knee replacements. The new plans include the rolling out of a second wave of independent treatment centres to carry out the operations.

Eight have already been set up to provide non-urgent surgery and treatment for ear, nose and throat problems.

But the move was immediately condemned by unions, who feared it was the latest step towards introducing a marketplace for healthcare. They warned the increasing reliance on the private sector would take work away from the NHS -- putting underused hospitals at risk.

Karen Jennings, head of health at Unison said: "There was a glimmer of hope that this new administration would listen a bit. This privatizing agenda will undermine the good work taking place in the NHS."

In a speech to NHS personnel managers in Birmingham, Ms. Hewitt promised to listen to concerns.

"Over the next three months I will be doing a lot of listening and learning from the real experts -- patients and staff. I intend to get around all parts of the NHS, finding out for myself what patients feel about the care they are receiving and shadowing staff as they carry out their duties.

"I will listen to everyone, whether medics or midwives, cleaners, porters or physiotherapists," she said. But she added the new private contracts signaled her determination "to continue both the direction and pace of reform."

The changes announced today will see the amount of NHS work carried out by the private sector rise to 11 percent. Ms. Hewitt's predecessor, John Reid, had originally said the private share would be no more than 15 percent.

But during the election campaign, Tony Blair hinted the private sector could have a much bigger role.

The Birmingham conference also heard from NHS chief executive Sir Nigel Crisp, who unveiled his latest report on the service. It showed that a number of key targets -- such as a maximum four-hour wait in AE -- was being met .

© 2005 Evening Standard; London (UK). All rights reserved.
© 2005 Daily News Central. All rights reserved.