Ministers were accused of establishing a 'two-tier NHS' tonight after they said hospitals would be allowed to set more wards aside to treat private patients.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley said he wanted to see the end of the 'arbitrary' cap - imposed by Labour - on the amount of money hospitals can earn from private patients.
He suggested that wards which end up being closed as hospitals continue to reduce the number of beds could in the future be set aside for private patients.
