Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust plans to double its £39 million a year income from private patients as it sells off parts of Charing Cross and St Mary's Hospital, as well as the entire Western Eye Hospital
Campaigners have been fervently against the changes
The NHS Trust which is slashing services at Charing Cross Hospital is planning to double its income from private patients.
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust revealed plans to double its £39 million annual private income from its three main hospitals over five years.
The news comes two weeks after the trust rubber-stamped plans to sell 55 per cent of Charing Cross Hospital’s site , ‘move out’ A&E services and reduce inpatient beds from 360 to 24.
Other integral services such as the stroke unit, acute surgery, and urology unit will be moved to St Mary’s Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital.
The controversial plans, made under the Shaping a Healthier Future programme, mean the Western Eye Hospital in Marylebone and 45 per cent of St Mary’s will be sold. Emergency departments at Hammersmith and Central Middlesex hospitals will also be closing on September 10.
Hammersmith MP, Andy Slaughter said: “Imperial already has a woeful record but this is another slap in the face for everyday west Londoners. Despite claims that these closures are nothing to do with money, here we see in their own board report that Imperial want to double private services – while at the same time cutting nearly 200 beds.
"This is another example of how you can’t trust David Cameron with the NHS and how only Labour will fight against further privatisation of our health service.”
The trust currently has an income from private beds on the 15th floor of Charing Cross, private beds at Hammersmith Hospital’s Sainsbury wing and from St Mary’s Lindo wing where Prince George was born - and planned caesarean births cost £15,000.
Imperial defended its plans, saying the income generated from private patients was essential to help pay for its NHS services.
A spokeswoman said: “Our private beds are not currently at full capacity and the trust is aiming to increase its income by using existing private beds and facilities. This would always be done in a way which complements, never at the expense of, our NHS services for patients.”
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