Patients on NHS waiting lists could be operated on at a private hospital in York to meet tough Government targets on waiting lists.

But it emerged today the move could cost the taxpayer, as the operations might be more expensive than those carried out at York District Hospital.

Health chiefs at York District Hospital have approached the private Purey Cust Nuffield Hospital about the possibility of paying them to use their operating theatres and nurses to carry out NHS operations.

Although the practice is common in other parts of the country, York Health Trust chief executive Dr Peter Kennedy said it was the first time a public-private arrangement had been considered for operations in York.

"At the moment we are just exploring the idea. Patients would be asked if they were prepared to go as NHS patients to the Purey Cust with the same surgeon they would have had at York District Hospital," he said.

The idea, which would have to be approved by the health authority and GPs, was a response to the Government's campaign to cut waiting lists in line with their manifesto promises, he said.

At the end of July, the waiting list for operations at York was 8,409 and by next March the hospital has to get this number down to 6,756, as its share of the 100,000 Labour promised to wipe off the national figure.

Dr Kennedy admitted operations at a private hospital would probably be more expensive than paying for them on the NHS and said he hoped more theatre nurses could be recruited in time.

"Our consultants, theatres and theatre staff are working at full pelt at the moment and the amount of space in the theatres is limited.

"We're recruiting 14 extra consultants and more theatre nurses but we won't have them until later in the year.

"If we can recruit nurses quickly and can we can use our own operating theatres we will be able to operate on all patients.

"We are planning to do 31,500 operations, a 10 per cent increase on what we did last year."

He said if operations did go ahead at Purey Cust they would make up a tiny proportion of the total, probably only about 100 and would include operations on cataracts and varicose veins.

Pamela Dix hospital manager at Purey Cust confirmed discussions had taken place with the trust.

"We are always happy to help York trust whenever we can," she said.

Alan Hartley, chairman of York Community Health Council, said: "The Government has made it quite plain that waiting lists have to be reduced so the hospital is in a dilemma.

"Do they comply with the Government's orders or do they ignore them? If they ignore them, they ignore them at their peril."

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