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NHS private clinics under attack 'No proof' private clinics work
(about 9 hours later)
Experts have criticised ministers for pushing ahead with a £5bn scheme to carry out NHS care in private clinics without evidence they are working.Experts have criticised ministers for pushing ahead with a £5bn scheme to carry out NHS care in private clinics without evidence they are working.
Edinburgh University researchers said there was no data proving independent sector treatment centres were providing value for money or good quality care.Edinburgh University researchers said there was no data proving independent sector treatment centres were providing value for money or good quality care.
Last week the BBC revealed that some of the clinics were being paid for work they were not doing.Last week the BBC revealed that some of the clinics were being paid for work they were not doing.
The government said they had helped cut waiting lists and gave value for money.The government said they had helped cut waiting lists and gave value for money.
The clinics, run by private firms, were set up to do minor NHS operations, such as hip and knee replacements and cataracts, as well as some diagnostics.The clinics, run by private firms, were set up to do minor NHS operations, such as hip and knee replacements and cataracts, as well as some diagnostics.
The government seems to have been charmed by the private sector but is unable to prove its effectiveness or value for money Jonathan FieldenBritish Medical AssociationThe government seems to have been charmed by the private sector but is unable to prove its effectiveness or value for money Jonathan FieldenBritish Medical Association
They have proved controversial as the first wave of clinics were given guaranteed contracts.They have proved controversial as the first wave of clinics were given guaranteed contracts.
NHS hospitals receive no such promises and instead are paid only for every patient treated.NHS hospitals receive no such promises and instead are paid only for every patient treated.
The BBC reported last week that only four of the 25 clinics up-and-running from the first wave were fulfilling their contracts.The BBC reported last week that only four of the 25 clinics up-and-running from the first wave were fulfilling their contracts.
But as they were given guarantees, the government cannot claw the money back.But as they were given guarantees, the government cannot claw the money back.
The second wave of treatment centres, which did not receive the guarantees, have also been dogged by controversy with several being scrapped because of a lack of demand.The second wave of treatment centres, which did not receive the guarantees, have also been dogged by controversy with several being scrapped because of a lack of demand.
The researchers said four years into the programme, the Department of Health had not gathered adequate data to justify the policy.The researchers said four years into the programme, the Department of Health had not gathered adequate data to justify the policy.
They said data on the number of available and occupied beds was collected annually form NHS hospitals, but there were no such figures for the private clinics.They said data on the number of available and occupied beds was collected annually form NHS hospitals, but there were no such figures for the private clinics.
And they said an attempt by the Healthcare Commission to assess the quality of work undertaken in private centres had failed because of poor quality and incomplete data.And they said an attempt by the Healthcare Commission to assess the quality of work undertaken in private centres had failed because of poor quality and incomplete data.
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The report also pointed out that the Department of Health had refused to release financial data on the clinics because of commercial confidentiality.The report also pointed out that the Department of Health had refused to release financial data on the clinics because of commercial confidentiality.
And it said there was growing evidence that the NHS was being harmed by their presence as hospitals were being left to deal with the most complicated cases, which under the NHS funding system are the most costly.And it said there was growing evidence that the NHS was being harmed by their presence as hospitals were being left to deal with the most complicated cases, which under the NHS funding system are the most costly.
Report author Professor Allyson Pollock said the lack of evidence was "worrying" and raised questions about the wisdom of the programme.Report author Professor Allyson Pollock said the lack of evidence was "worrying" and raised questions about the wisdom of the programme.
She added: "The policy of diverting scarce NHS funds into independent sector treatment centres is leading to fragmentation and financial instability and NHS beds and services are being closed to make way for the for-profit private sector."She added: "The policy of diverting scarce NHS funds into independent sector treatment centres is leading to fragmentation and financial instability and NHS beds and services are being closed to make way for the for-profit private sector."
And Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "The government seems to have been charmed by the private sector but is unable to prove its effectiveness or value for money."And Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "The government seems to have been charmed by the private sector but is unable to prove its effectiveness or value for money."
A Department of Health spokeswoman said the clinics had helped reduce waiting times and were providing value for money.A Department of Health spokeswoman said the clinics had helped reduce waiting times and were providing value for money.
She added: "We remain committed to a diversity of providers in healthcare - this is practical reform in the interests of patients and the taxpayer, not reform for the sake of it."She added: "We remain committed to a diversity of providers in healthcare - this is practical reform in the interests of patients and the taxpayer, not reform for the sake of it."
David Worskett, director of the NHS Partners Network, an alliance of independent providers, said patients rated the treatment they receive from independent sector treatment centres very highly, and there was evidence that they were helping to drive improvement in local NHS services.