'We can’t stand by while people die’

A NEW private A&E system is set to be rolled out across Britain, created by NHS doctors who say they can no longer tolerate “deadly delays and the normalisation of excess deaths” in hospitals.

- By Lucy Johnston SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITOR

The first pilot site is the London Urgent Care Centre, which offers walk-in access to senior emergency doctors for £99, with triage within 20 minutes, and same-day scans and blood tests.

Its founders, all senior NHS emergency specialists, say the model will be expanded nationwide through partnerships with other private hospitals already in discussion.

They hope to create a network of urgent-care hubs designed to take the pressure off collapsing NHS services and stop patients “dying waiting to be seen”.

“We've reached a point where people are dying waiting for care. That’s not hyperbole, it’s happening,” said Dr Raeen Farrokhnik.

“We're still proud NHS doctors but we couldn’t stand by any longer and watch it collapse.”