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21/03/2008
McDonald's A&E Proposed For NHS
Children's wards or accident and emergency facilities in our hospitals could soon be provided courtesy of McDonald's or Virgin if plans to allow commercial firms to sponsor NHS hospital wards are fulfilled.
Under radical plans announced by the Government, the sponsorship of health services would create a new era of open competition between hospitals.
Private companies could be allowed to create some "brand awareness" such as a logo on hospital property but they would not be allowed to gain a "commercial advantage", meaning a firm such as Durex would not be allowed to sponsor a sexual health unit, but it could sponsor another type of clinic or a hospital department.
The plans announced by Ben Bradshaw, the UK Health minister, come as part of a drive to give NHS patients more choice over the private or NHS hospitals in which they are treated.
Patients are already to be allowed a choice of hospitals across England from 1 April, including private hospitals that are NHS approved. At the moment, the choice is limited to local providers but the NHS will be able to "shop" for health care across the country.
NHS patients, who opt for treatment in a private hospital will not have to pay for their care, provided it is covered by NHS contracts.
Hospitals are also to be allowed to promote their own services to compete with each other for "custom" within the NHS.
The code says there will be no official cap on how much they can spend on advertising their services to patients.
(BMcC)
Under radical plans announced by the Government, the sponsorship of health services would create a new era of open competition between hospitals.
Private companies could be allowed to create some "brand awareness" such as a logo on hospital property but they would not be allowed to gain a "commercial advantage", meaning a firm such as Durex would not be allowed to sponsor a sexual health unit, but it could sponsor another type of clinic or a hospital department.
The plans announced by Ben Bradshaw, the UK Health minister, come as part of a drive to give NHS patients more choice over the private or NHS hospitals in which they are treated.
Patients are already to be allowed a choice of hospitals across England from 1 April, including private hospitals that are NHS approved. At the moment, the choice is limited to local providers but the NHS will be able to "shop" for health care across the country.
NHS patients, who opt for treatment in a private hospital will not have to pay for their care, provided it is covered by NHS contracts.
Hospitals are also to be allowed to promote their own services to compete with each other for "custom" within the NHS.
The code says there will be no official cap on how much they can spend on advertising their services to patients.
(BMcC)
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'Postcode lottery' remains in NHS dental care
There are "huge regional variations" in NHS dental care in England, consumer organisation Which? has warned in new research. The survey of 466 dentistry practices - which comes a year after the start of new NHS dentists' contract in England - found that just over a third (36%) are taking on any new NHS patients.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A rather cloudy but mainly dry day with just the odd shower. Best chance of any brightness will be across northern and eastern counties. Mild. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:Another cloudy and mild night with the odd spot of rain. More widespread outbreaks of rain will spread southeast late in the night. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
