Last year more than a million patients had surgery in the UK's 230 private acute hospitals. No one is sure how many other tragedies occurred. Unlike the NHS, private hospitals do not have to publish independently audited information on clinical performance. At least 1,000 patients are transferred from private to NHS hospitals each year when problems arise, and half of these are emergencies. Despite this alarming lack of accountability, the Government has asked the private medical sector to take a front-line role in its battle to reduce waiting lists.
Private hospitals have the spare beds and operating theatres.
Many patients say no. Last year they dealt with more than 200 enquiries. Lambie's late wife Eileen was admitted to a private hospital in Surrey for bladder cancer surgery. When her consultant went on leave, a locum urologist took over and so began a two-month ordeal of deteriorating health and weight loss. He kept no notes, failed to carry out blood tests and refused two requests for a second opinion.