NHS budgets are under pressure from the ever increasing demand for hospital services. Many Primary Care Trusts are reporting significant financial concerns, with cost controls likely to tighten further when public sector spending is reviewed after the 2010 election.

In the meantime a significant proportion of privately insured patients are still being admitted or referred to NHS facilities where they are using precious resources and further increasing pressures on public hospital services.

GPs are sometimes not aware that their patients have private insurance or that they may be willing to pay for a health service. Patients are very much influenced by the GP's advice of the best place for them to receive care, and in some cases the GP may not be familiar with the processes for booking private patients into an independent sector facility.

Each time a patient is treated outside of the NHS it frees up funds for others who are waiting for services. It is importan ... Read more »