Surgeons accused over private work

King George's Hospital denies the allegations

Surgeons have been accused of operating on hundreds of private patients in NHS time.

The accusation is made in an anonymous letter apparently sent to the health secretary by junior healthworkers at King George's Hospital in Ilford, Essex.

It says surgeon's private work has sometimes led to cancellation of NHS operations.

This is deplorable, as it is both unethical and blatantly fraudulent

Letter to the health secretary

The letter, leaked to the Evening Standard newspaper, claims: "These doctors are abusing their positions. They are accepting an NHS salary and are at the same time being paid to carry out private treatment.

"This is deplorable, as it is both unethical and blatantly fraudulent."

The letter goes on: "They may leave their lists in order to pursue their private practice and leave their junior staff to complete the NHS work.

"Several of the junior staff have complained that they have been left with inadequate supervision."

Private patients have never taken the place of NHS

King George's Hospital, Ilford

King George's Hospital has strongly refuted all the claims and denies any fraud.

It issued a statement which said: "Private patients have never taken the place of NHS. Last year the hospital exceeded its NHS surgery targets and the waiting list there was reduced by over 1000."

The allegation follows a survey of NHS trust chief executives by the Consumers Association which found that consultants' private work was adding to the length of NHS waiting lists.

The Consumers Association says that consultants' contracts should be radically overhauled to address this potential conflict of interest.