A wide range of NHS services are to be performed by private companies in a bid to increase competition.

Patients will be encouraged to consider a host of community services for treatments including X-rays, chemotherapy and counselling.

Individuals are already free to choose between the NHS and private companies for the full range of hospital operations and many already use non-NHS for other treatments as well.

However, health secretary Andrew Lansley has announced that an additional eight areas of healthcare will be opened up for competition by September 2012.

BBC News report that for each of these areas at least three choices will be expected to be offered to those who need treatment.

As well as increasing the private sector's role in the healthcare industry, it is hoped the move will ease the workloads of those in doctor and nurse manager jobs and shorten NHS waiting times. 

Speaking to The Independent, Lansley rubbished suggestions that competition within the private sector is just there for the sake of it.

He said: "Let's look at what this is really about. It's about children getting wheelchairs more quickly. It's about more people with mental health conditions choosing to receive their care somewhere closer to home.

"It's about older people being able to choose a service that will come to their home. It's about real choices for people over their care, leading to better results."