RHCH goes private to cut lists

Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust is striving to meet the Government's stringent 12-month maximum waiting time by March and thereby retain its three-star status.

The pressure has forced the Royal Hampshire County Hospital to cut waiting-time by forking out on private healthcare for many patients.

Trust finance director, John Williams, told a meeting on Wednesday: "The extent of our use of the private sector is very high and it's very expensive.

"We are going to spend over one million this year in the private sector.Before next year, it's important for the trust to address this issue."

The extra costs comes during a tight financial year for the trust. It forecasts its budget overspend this year to reach £0.5m.

Choosing which patients will receive private treatment is based on the length of time they have already waited and the type of treatment they need.

Some NHS patients have undergone orthopedic surgery at Winchester's Sarum Road Hospital.

A spokesman said: "If people are 'long waiters'--coming up to the 18-month mark--then they will be considered for private treatment.

"Only operations which can be done safely are transferred because sometimes private hospitals don't have intensive care units or high dependency beds."

She added that Winchester's hospital managers and doctors "negotiate" with the private sector over costs.

"We're hoping that some more money will filter down from the Department of Health, but it's not guaranteed."

National Audit reports this week that some NHS managers have massaged their waiting-list figures to meet targets also worried some board members at the meeting.

Independent director, Mary Sabben-Clare, sought assurances that the trust's own figures were "accurate".

Rod Halls, chief executive, assured her: "I am delighted that we are not one of the trusts involved and if we were, I wouldn't be here now. We apply the rules assiduously, as shown by our numerous inspections."