Private Health Care & the NHS
21st February 2012
Margot James calls on the Government to ensure that any income that is generated by private patients is used to benefit NHS patients.
Margot James (Stourbridge) (Con): Professionals working in the NHS told the Health and Social Care Bill Committee that income from private patients was important to the development and improvement of NHS services. What steps will my right hon. Friend take to ensure that that income benefits NHS patients?
Mr Burns: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question, because it might clarify some of the misinformation being bandied around on the Opposition Benches. Any money generated by private patients or by the private sector within the NHS must be spent on NHS patients, so it will benefit NHS patients and the NHS, and that is to be welcomed.
