Full story in The Independent, 21 September 2018
Almost one in three knee replacements and 20 per cent of hip replacements that are NHS funded are carried out by private healthcare providers, figures have revealed.
The number of routine operations being transferred to the independent sector ever year has been on the rise since 2012, with the figure now in the tens of thousands.
The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) said soaring demand and long waiting lists are forcing the NHS to turn to others for help.
Campaigners described the move to outsource surgeries as an intentional step towards privatisation and a spokesperson for campaigning group Doctors for the NHS said the money that goes on the private sector could be spent on the “crippling” NHS.
