Wednesday 7 February 2007

Going private

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust is millions of pounds in the red. In a desperate attempt to balance the books four wards are shut and retiring consultants have not been replaced. Surgeons are instructed not to treat patients unless they have waited the maximum allowable waiting time. In short, the place is barely functioning as an acute district hospital.

So what do the managers do now? Amazingly, they are planning to open a private wing (allegedly to "subsidize NHS activity").

Would it not be better for them to learn to run a proper NHS service first?

1 comment:

barry monk said...

The story is featured by Bedfordshire on Sunday newspaper today (11th Feb)