Private treatment will no longer bar patients from NHS care - The Guardian 5th November 2008

Patients are to be allowed to pay privately for treatment with expensive drugs without losing their entitlement to NHS care, the health secretary, Alan Johnson, announced yesterday. But he denied that the government was presiding over a dilution of the founding principles of the NHS, which promises healthcare for all, free at the point of delivery. Any patient who wants to pay for drugs the NHS does not provide must get their course of treatment privately.Link to Story

Additional Stories

Editorial: Health reforms are buying time - The Guardian 5th November 2008

Sarah Boseley: No panacea - The Guardian 5th November 2008

Health minister Alan Johnson lifts NHS ban on top-up treatment - The Guardian 4th November 2008

Government to announce decision on ‘top-up’ healthcare - The Guardian 4th November 2008

Q&A: NHS top-up care - The Guardian 4th November 2008

Row over two-tier health service as ban on ‘top-up’ cancer drugs lifted - The Independent 5th November 2008

NHS medicine ‘top up’ scheme confirmed - The Independent 4th November 2008

NHS lifts ban on ‘top-up’ medicine -The Sunday Times 2nd November 2008

A patient-friendly NHS - The Telegraph 5th November 2008

NHS faces demands for refunds after U-turn on top-up drug payments - Daily Mail 5th November 2008

Thousands of cancer patients who pay privately for drugs WILL get free NHS care, say ministers - Daily Mail 5th October 2008

Cancer patients get right to buy ‘top-up’ drugs - Daily Mail 3rd November 2008

Will the NHS top-up plans unravel? - BBC Health News 4th November 2008