NHS ‘champion’ claims for private health care

Health minister Ann Keen today admitted using her Commons expenses to pay for private medical care.

She billed the taxpayer twice for health assessments at Blackheath Hospital for a member of her staff.

However, former nurse Mrs Keen faced questions over why she had not insisted that her employee use the NHS. Mrs Keen's office expenses show she claimed £150 on 1 August 2005 for a new consultation, and £82 on 31 August.

Andrew Dakers, her Liberal Democrat opponent in her Brentford and Isleworth constituency said: "For someone who has been a longstanding and vocal supporter of the NHS, to be apparently giving up on the NHS for treatment, as these claims suggest, needs urgent explanation."

Nearly all the details of the bills from the Blackheath Hospital have been blacked out including the patient, addresses and type of treatment.

In a statement, Mrs Keen, 60, said: "This claim relates to a member of my staff who sustained an injury while at work.

"Following a period of agreed sickness absence, I requested an occupational health assessment for them to help them in resuming their duties.

"As my member of staff had personal access to healthcare provided by the private sector at Blackheath Hospital, they chose to manage their care in this way.

"The parliamentary authorities agreed for these assessments to be paid for under the terms and conditions of my staff's employment.

"The redactions in the released documents relate to patient confidentiality."