Private health care 'top-up' plans

Professor Mike Richards is unveiling his long-awaited review of top-ups, which have sparked controversy after several patients died fighting for the right to add on to their NHS care.

The report will set out the circumstances in which people can pay privately for drugs while still receiving care on the NHS.

It is expected to address several concerns, such as what happens if a patient runs out of money, agreements that can be made with drug companies, and the principle of allowing top-ups in relation to a whole range of diseases and conditions.

Last month it emerged that about 1,000 patients a year were already topping up their NHS care with private drugs.

The Government has previously stated that patients cannot mix and match private and NHS care, with current rules being that a patient cannot be both an NHS patient and a private patient in the same episode of care.

To get round the problem, some NHS hospitals have been allowing patients to see a consultant and treating that as one episode of care.

Another consultant has then written a private prescription for the drugs, which have been supplied to the patient's home by a private firm.

Earlier this year, Linda O'Boyle, 64, died from bowel cancer after fighting for the right to top up NHS treatment with medicine purchased privately to fight the disease.

Mrs O'Boyle, from Billericay, Essex, spent around £11,000 for the drug cetuximab.