Going to the dogs

Is British healthcare:

Plans by a debt-ridden NHS hospital to treat sick cats and dogs to raise money were criticised yesterday as a "hygiene disaster waiting to happen".

Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk is hoping to reduce a deficit of £24 million by giving radiotherapy to pets.

The hospital expects to make £50,000 a year – enough for two nurses – from weekend treatment for cats and dogs suffering from cancer.

....Jan Rowsell, a spokesman, said: "Our radiotherapy staff wanted to explore whether the equipment could be used to treat pets on a Saturday morning when nobody is using it."