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Page last updated at 14:08 GMT, Tuesday, 10 November 2009

Plans for 'right' to private care

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Hospital patients in England will get the legal right to be seen privately if they face NHS delays.

Hospitals have to start treating patients within 18 weeks of referral - or two weeks in the case of cancer - but ministers will now give patients a legal right to private care if this does not happen. Patients can opt for treatment at another NHS centre if so desired.

The Tories, who would scrap waiting time targets, said the pledge was "unaffordable and uncosted".

But Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, says any extra costs would be "minimal".

He was talking to Martha Kearney on Radio 4's The World At One.

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