Ministers should requisition beds from private hospitals into NHS service to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Labour and trade unions have said.
The GMB union has estimated that round 8,000 beds at around 570 private healthcare outlets around the UK could be drafted into the effort.
The EU’s centre for disease control (ECDC) said this week that there was a “high” likelihood capacity in the NHS would be exceeded in the course of fighting the virus.
“The prime minister says this is ‘the worst public health crisis for a generation’ – well, he needs to start acting like it,” said Tim Roache, the GMB trade union’s general secretary.
“It can’t be right that we have plush private hospitals lying empty waiting for the wealthy to fall ill, while people are left in dying in hospitals for the want of a bed.
“Do the right thing and let these unused beds be requisitioned by the NHS to save lives.”
Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said it would be “completely wrong” not to call on all the resources available and said his party backed the call.
“The government should leave no stone unturned when it comes to supporting our NHS and making sure it is best equipped to protect life throughout the Covid-19 outbreak,” he said.
“That’s why we support GMB’s calls to requisition private hospital beds and increase capacity to meet the rising demand.
“As the prime minister said, this is the worst public health crisis for a generation. It would be completely wrong for the government not to call on all the resources possible.”
The Health Service Journal trade magazine reported earlier this week that talks are under way between NHS England and private providers on how best to use their capacity if there is a surge in demand from the virus.
The magazine reported that the talks, said to be at an “early stage”, could create a “national framework or deal to allow the NHS to more quickly buy services in the event of major Covid-19 demand surges”.
