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NHS top-up care ban to be lifted NHS top-up care ban to be lifted
(about 3 hours later)
The ban on giving National Health Service treatment to patients who choose to go private for part of their healthcare is to be lifted in Scotland.The ban on giving National Health Service treatment to patients who choose to go private for part of their healthcare is to be lifted in Scotland.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has drawn up new guidance to allow top-up payments in some cases. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has drawn up draft guidance to allow top-up payments in some cases.
At the moment, some patients pay for some treatment privately. However, that can exclude them from receiving other treatment on the NHS at the same time.At the moment, some patients pay for some treatment privately. However, that can exclude them from receiving other treatment on the NHS at the same time.
In October, Ms Sturgeon promised a review into the system.In October, Ms Sturgeon promised a review into the system.
She will publish new guidance to make so-called co-payments possible in certain circumstances. Similar changes were announced in England last month. She has published new guidance to make so-called co-payments possible in certain circumstances. Similar changes were announced in England last month.
'Genuinely benefit'
Ms Sturgeon said: "Nothing in the new draft guidance should distract us from the priority of making sure that where a patient can genuinely benefit from a drug they are able to access it on the NHS."
She said the health service should aim to ensure that decisions on co-payments were the exception rather than the norm.
"However, it is clear that NHS boards can be faced with complicated circumstances where a patient may wish to pay for treatment not provided on the NHS," she said.
"We took the decision that a new framework with revised guidance would be helpful in assisting NHS boards with the management of such circumstances."
The draft revised guidance has been issued to all NHS boards, who have until 12 January to give their responses.