BOLTON LAD - I can assure you, the NHS get a MASSIVE discount. To the point where many of the services are carried out for free. The NHS have a very strict pricing structure and will only pay a set fee for any operation or test no matter where you go, private hospital or NHS trust hospital. The difference with the private sector is that they invest their money back into the Hopsital to ensure they have the best equipment, staff and training. And they're CLEAN! Borne out by the fact that the two local BMI hospital in Rochdale and Bolton have just come 1st and 2nd in the Bury link awards for best hospitals. An NHS patient can be in a room next door to a private patient who is paying £1000s for the same operation - a car park charge is hardly comparable is it? MEN - get your facts correct before puuting down a Hospital where patients are treated with care and dignity whether they are private or NHS - can you honestly say you get that in the NHS???