Operations in prefabs?

Hospital patients could be treated in prefabs provided by private firms under new plans to cope with pressure on the NHS.

Companies have been asked to bid for a

£150 million contract to supply fully-staffed cabins to help increase capacity.

The prefabricated facilities could be used as cancer wards, emergency rooms, maternity wards and intensive care units.

The staff provided by private firms could also be asked to carry out operations at weekends if required.

Gordon Beattie, director of national procurement at NHS NSS, said the tender will allow health boards to access additional capacity if it is needed.