Thread by @ShaunLintern

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Rishi Sunak is funneling thousands of NHS patients into private hospitals but are they safe? The Sunday Times has learned of hundreds of cases of unnecessary surgery. 🧵 1/9 thetimes.co.uk/article/8d7007…

Breast surgeon Ian Paterson harmed hundreds of his patients. But was he really a rogue? Compensation for negligence (excluding his victims) shows unnecessary surgery is the single largest category. This is only a glimpse into the opaque world of private healthcare 2/9

“This isn't a question of rogue surgeons. This is the routine business as usual approach with people being referred for private operations and being overtreated" says @GuyWForster 3/9

Many of the Paterson inquiry recommendations have yet to be acted on. Chairman Graham James told me: "Even allowing for the pandemic, it is disappointing more have not been fully implemented. Until they are, the possibility of a similar tragedy will not be averted.” 4/9

Financial motives can influence care in private healthcare. @CHPIthinktank found more than 600 consultants had shares or a stake in hospitals they sent patients to, while 77 doctors received a fee each time equipment they owned was used for treating or diagnosing patients. 5/9

Are patients protected by insurance. Not always. In a staggering gap some insurers have complete discretion to walk away without paying a penny in compensation. It had tragic consequences for Gina Tilley's family 6/9

This week Tony Dixon, a mesh surgeon in Bristol, faces a GMC hearing for misconduct. He may have harmed hundreds across both NHS and private sectors: 7/9

Most private hospitals lack proper overnight cover and don't have intensive care. When things go wrong patients can be "A&E dumped" in the local NHS Trust. On avg 550 patients a month are admitted to NHS trusts from a private hospitals 8/9

With record waiting lists more and more people are paying to skip the queue. But they could be skipping vital safeguards too.

Read the full story: 9/9thetimes.co.uk/article/8d7007…