Private companies could win contracts to perform operations

Health Minister Andy Kerr has held initial talks with the private sector to discover what more it can do.

The Scottish Executive dismissed talk of a u-turn and argued that ministers had always taken a pragmatic approach to the use of the private sector.

The Scottish National Party said it was an admission of failure and the Tories said it was too little, too late.

A spokeswoman for the executive confirmed on Wednesday that Mr Kerr had held talks with private health care providers earlier this week.

Tackling the problem

There have been newspaper reports that they could lead to a new policy of awarding three to five-year contracts to the private sector for certain operations.

However, the spokeswoman refused to discuss details ahead of an announcement at Holyrood next month.

She said: "We have used the private health (sector) for some time but clearly the minister wants to look at other ways of tackling the problem.

"That's partly what that discussion was, but full details of that and how he plans to take it forward will be announced to parliament."

They have been embarrassed into this spectacular u-turn and have no-one to blame but themselves for failing the patients of Scotland David Davidson Tory health spokesman

SNP health spokeswoman Shona Robison said: "If these reports are true this represents a major shift in policy by the executive.

"It would also be a frank admission of failure by the Lib-Lab executive in not being able to turn the NHS around despite extra investment in recent years."

Scottish Conservative health spokesman David Davidson said the move would be seen as "a welcome relief" for the patients who will benefit.

But he added: "This is too little too late. Waiting lists and waiting times have increased substantially under this Labour/Lib Dem executive; only when we reach crisis point do they take any action, and even then only in a token manner.