Health secretary set to announce patient care reforms

UK health secretary Sajid Javid will outline changes to the nation’s healthcare system as part of a strategy aimed at reducing waiting times, personalising choice and improving care. In the lead-up to the announcement, several publications ran headlines around an already-released statement that suggested patients in the UK will be able to receive surgical treatment from private hospitals if they have been on a waiting list for more than 18 months.

NHS patients waiting over 18 months could be offered private treatment

The Telegraph

NHS reforms announced today with patients sent to ‘shop around’ for care

The Mirror

Millions of NHS patients are prepared to go into debt to beat waiting lists as figures reveal 85% are considering private healthcare

The Daily Mail

Private hospitals offered for NHS patients waiting too long

The Independent