Private hospitals are to be given a greater role in carrying out taxpayer-funded elective surgery under a Government plan to treat more patients.
The aim is to get better prices by smoothing the flow of patients and increase the number treated.
Private hospitals already do about 6 per cent - around 7000 patients a year - of the elective operations and investigations that are funded by district health boards and say they could do significantly more.
Should private hospitals have a greater role in taxpayer-funded elective surgery? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Armed police, bomb squad find 'item of concern' at Christchurch property
Neighbour says he was evacuated from his home after "device" was found.