23/01/02 - The Scotsman

HCI set to admit 360 Scottish patients

Kate Foster - Health Correspondent

HUNDREDS of Scots NHS patients will be sent to the HCI hospital in the first major deal of the executive's new public-private health concordat.

The sudden move came just hours after warnings in The Scotsman that the 540-bed HCI in Clydebank was rapidly filling up with block bookings from English NHS trusts.

The executive was last night unable to provide full details of the plan, but said it would involve a variety of operations for 360 patients from the North and South Glasgow trusts over the next three months.

Last year, health minister Malcolm Chisholm admitted the private sector was a possible solution in helping to reduce NHS waiting times and lists.

The NHS south of the Border has struck a deal with the private sector. In Scotland. Mr Chisholm announced the setting-up of a National Waiting Times Co-ordination Unit to identify spare capacity throughout the NHS and private sector.

A spokeswoman for the executive said: "The unit has already undertaken an initial review of available spare capacity within the NHS to determine how best this can be used over the winter.

"Over the last week, it has already secured operations for 360 patients at HCI. These will help take pressure off the NHS at this busy time of year."

Mary Scanlon, the Scottish Conservatives' health spokeswoman, said: "Previously, the executive insisted patients would be better to languish on waiting lists than use excellent facilities in the private sector.

"Today's move suggests that reality is beginning to sink in. That said, Scotland is still being left behind