The government has outlined plans to treat NHS patients in private clinics.

Speaking as the health secretary, Alan Milburn, prepared to unveil the plans to link up with Bupa, Number 10 said it was vital to use all options to deliver extra capacity in the NHS.

"The key fact here is capacity," said a spokesman. "There is a shortfall of capacity in the NHS... and the key issue is what you can do practically to increase capacity in the NHS." He added that Labour's manifesto made clear its commitment to use any option which adds additional capacity providing its represents value for money.

Forum Response: BUPA

Clare Hollingsworth, managing director of BUPA Hospitals Limited, told ePolitix.com: "BUPA Hospitals is pleased to be working with the NHS to cut waiting times, treat more patients and extend patient choice for private and NHS patients in the South East.

"We have been in discussion with the Department of Health and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust with the aim of setting up a Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (DTC) at BUPA Redwood Hospital at Redhill, Surrey. We will be rationalising our private hospital facilities in Surrey and treating private patients at BUPA Gatwick Park Hospital. This will enable us to develop our private healthcare services while contributing to the NHS locally.

"Under the proposal BUPA Redwood Hospital will offer a range of diagnostic and elective day and in patient treatments for up to 12,000 NHS patients. The DTC will provide services to the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and other NHS commissioning agencies in the South East.

"We will be making a substantial investment in BUPA Gatwick Park Hospital which will allow us to meet the needs of all our patients currently treated at both Redwood and Gatwick Park hospitals. We have reached an agreement in principle with both the Department of Health and the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust to establish BUPA Redwood as a Public Private Partnership dedicated exclusively to treating NHS patients. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Trust staff to develop new and innovative approaches to patient care."

Forum Response: Unison

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, told ePolitix.com: "We are disappointed that Alan Milburn has decided to go down this route. We agree with the concept of diagnostic centres. Routine operations need to be carried out more quickly and waiting lists need to come down. But we disagree with simply pushing it out to the private sector."