Scotland is still being left behind as NHS trusts elsewhere make greater use of HCI for more patients.

Mary Scanlon, Tory health spokeswoman

In December, he announced the setting-up of a national waiting times co-ordination unit to identify spare capacity throughout the NHS and private sector.

On Tuesday the Scottish Executive's health department revealed that the unit had secured a mixture of general surgery, orthopaedic, and cardiac operations for the patients from the North and South Glasgow NHS Trusts in the last week.

An executive spokeswoman said the unit would have a positive effect on patient care north of the border.

She said: "We are confident that the unit will make a real difference in reducing cardiac waiting times across Scotland. It has already got off to a fast start in its first week."

Extend plans

Scottish Tory health spokeswoman, Mary Scanlon, welcomed the move but called for an extension of the use of private health care for NHS patients throughout Scotland.

She said: "I think we have to commend the unit on putting patients before ideology, and ensuring that they do not languish on a waiting list while these excellent facilities are available.

"Scotland is still being left behind as NHS trusts in England and Northern Ireland make greater use of HCI for more patients.

"I would hope that access to HCI would be extended to patients on waiting lists throughout Scotland."