Private Patients May Occupy Half Of NHS Hospital Beds

It’s ironic that just days after Prince Philip underwent heart surgery at Papworth Hospital, we learn that 50% of hospital beds could be occupied by private patients under plans to ‘reform’ the NHS.
When it comes to emergency procedures, the NHS is the best in the world so it’s important that we stop David Cameron privatising it through the back door.
(Eileen Fletcher)

Isn’t it heartening that a 90-year-old member of the royal family can have chest pains and get rushed to the very best heart hospital in the country right away, have life saving surgery immediately and the next morning have his family taken to visit him by helicopter.
And mostly at the expense of us taxpayers.
Would a member of the public receive the same treatment?
(David Motherwell)

The NHS was created in 1948 by a Labour Government to ensure people from all walks of life would receive equal medical treatment regardless of their financial status.
However, the Tories have once again revealed their belief there should be one law for the rich and another for the poor by allowing the better off to jump the queue.
This undermines the very fabric of the greatest national institution in the world.
(Roger Grant)