Concern at level of private usage in some hospitals

THE remarkably high level of private patients being treated in public hospitals was revealed last night.

Despite hospital consultants’ contracts limiting the numbers of private patients taking beds in public hospitals to just 20%, figures from the Department of Health showed that in some hospitals private usage is double the limits allowed.

Of the 60 public hospitals where data was provided, just 20 were at or below the 20% level specified in the consultants common contract.