Independent healthcare sector accused of ‘acting as a parasite’ after ‘minimum income guarantee’ deal
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Sajid Javid has ordered the boss of the health service to give private hospitals up to £270m, even though they may not treat any NHS patients in return, despite her deep misgivings about the deal.
The health secretary ignored strongly worded warnings from Amanda Pritchard and instructed her to hand private hospitals £75m to £90m a month from NHS England funds for the next three months, in case they are needed to help manage a new Omicron-driven surge in Covid cases. Operators of the facilities will receive the money as a “minimum income guarantee” simply for being on standby until the end of March to receive NHS patients, even if they treat none.
