NHS to send patients to India

Feb 24 2008 By Ben Goldby

HEALTH chiefs will spend NHS money flying Midland patients to India for treatment under shock plans to cut waiting lists.

The scheme, which has already been discussed by the Indian Health Minister and senior Government officials, could be trialed in either Birmingham or Leicester.

One senior British doctor told the Sunday Mercury that it was "common sense" to send NHS patients to the sub-continent for surgery.

But Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley criticised the move, saying: "I despair at the Government's failure to deal with Britain's inability to deliver the best healthcare in the world."