One recent emergency transfer from a private hospital to the NHS intensive-care unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, cost the Royal 16,000, for which it wasn't reimbursed. Some might have a sign saying ICU, but it's usually a high-dependency unit, which provides less intensive care. At least two specialist intensive-care doctors should be available 24 hours a day. If not, more patient tragedies are likely. A damning 1999 report from the Commons Health Select Committee highlighted the glaring gaps in the regulation of private hospitals.
Critics remain unconvinced.
The act does nothing to clarify this blurring of responsibility. There is still no accountability. We asked the Department of Health what safeguards would be built into contracts under the concordat to stop NHS patients being sent for surgery in private hospitals with inadequate emergency back-up. The department could give no hard guarantees. The NHS Trust Confederation has still not received any specific guidance from the Government on this crucial issue.