Responding to the publication of this year’s Dr Foster Hospital Guide David Worskett, Director of the NHS Partners Network, said:

"It is important that patients have access to clear information from all providers of NHS care and we welcome inclusion of the independent sector in this year's guide. It enables patients to make fully informed decisions about their care and the options available to them, and effectively exercise their right to choose which we know they want to do.

"The report highlights the high standard of care received in the independent sector as one of the “10 things we have learned this year” and acknowledges the “good outcomes” and “positive patient ratings” in the sector.

The data clearly confirms that independent sector facilities are among the best for provision of NHS care and this endorses what independent patient ratings have already shown. Length of stay, readmissions, re-do rates compliance with CQC key standards are all significantly better than those for NHS facilities.

"Despite a small market share the independent sector has made an enormous contribution to the NHS and helped ensure that patients receive higher quality care in safer environments while waiting times have been reduced through the increased capacity.

"Independent sector providers deliver care to NHS patients at the same cost as NHS providers and are paid from public sector funds. This is not privatisation in any sense and the use of independent providers often benefits the taxpayer through significant financial savings. As the NHS faces increasing challenges, the role of the independent sector will be increasingly valuable to patients, to the GPs who advise them and to taxpayers."