Cash-strapped health bosses are expecting to pay £10m to Northern Ireland s three main private hospitals for work they carried out during three months of the pandemic.
Health Minister Robin Swann revealed the eyewatering sum in response to a question from People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.
The health service has been sending a proportion of patients, including those with life-threatening conditions such as cancer, to Kingsbridge Private Hospital, North West Independent Clinic and Ulster Independent Clinic as it struggled to cope with demand as a result of Covid-19.
Mr Carroll submitted a question to Mr Swann asking for the cost of sending patients to the three hospitals during a three-month period in 2020 and the UUP minister said the overall cost is expected to be in the region of £10m .
Questions over use of private hospitals during pandemic - Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport highlandradio.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from highlandradio.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BBC News
By Niall McCracken
Red flag cases can describe urgent and often live-saving procedures.
The figures include cancelled surgeries as well as procedures such as endoscopies.
The Department of Health (DoH) said it was deeply regrettable that any patient experiences postponed operations . The department is assured that every attempt will continue to be made to protect the most urgent surgery, and that postponed operations will be rescheduled as quickly as possible, said a DoH spokesperson. Trusts are keeping the position under daily review.
The department s latest figures show that between 18 March 2020 and 21 January 2021 there were 4,280 red flag cancer procedure cancellations across Northern Ireland s health trusts.