Alan Milburn will this week invite foreign healthcare firms to set up in the UK.

The health secretary will encourage the European private sector to consider a range of possibilities - including building new surgical units, taking over unused NHS facilities and working with UK companies to free up beds.

He will also announce that patients waiting more than six months for treatment will be able to seek treatment in Europe from next April.

Speaking on Sunday, Milburn pledged more use of the private sector to cut NHS waiting times.

The Guardian reports that Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates, will fly to Britain to advise NHS chief executives on integrated systems to improve patient care.