MINISTERS yesterday signalled a massive increase in the use of private-sector providers in the NHS in Scotland in an effort to cut stubbornly high waiting times.

Andy Kerr, health minister, met private providers earlier this week to discuss improving diagnosis and treatment for patients by buying in services from the private sector to create a faster, more flexible service.

Waiting list figures out today are expected to show continuing problems in treatment times. In the last five years, waiting lists have fallen by 18% in England but risen 22% in Scotland.

Until now, the Scottish Executive has made marginal use of the private sector to provide services for patients. However, Mr Kerr is expected to announce a major change next month, with greater use made of spare capacity in the private sector to clear bottlenecks in the NHS.

A newspaper report suggested the executive was looking at three to five-year contracts with providers for knee, hip joint and minor heart operations.

Other possible changes include greater use of the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank, new walk-in diagnostic and treatment centres, and mobile diagnosis and treatment centres.

Although these new centres are most likely to be in the NHS, they may be staffed and run by the private sector, but with care still free at the point of delivery.

Such models are already operating south of the border. However, ministers still oppose importing another English idea - foundation hospitals - as they believe Scotland's geography makes competition between far-flung hospitals unrealistic.

An executive spokeswoman confirmed greater use of the private sector was among proposals to increase capacity, but could not indicate what the changes would cost.

News of the shift brought a swift reaction from opposition parties.

Shona Robison, SNP shadow health secretary, has written to Mr Kerr demanding immediate details of changes and costs.

She said the move was an admission of defeat and warned expanding the private sector would make it harder for the NHS to recruit staff.

''Rather than hoisting up the white flag for Scotland's health service, we need to tackle the problems of capacity head on,'' she said. ''These moves only underline the fact that the executive has failed to implement a coherent national strategy for the NHS.''

David Davidson, the Tory health spokesman, welcomed the ''U-turn'', but said it could prove to be too little, too late.

''English patients have had the benefit of similar measures for some time and I do not understand why the previous health minister refused to allow Scots access to prompt treatment, especially given that this scheme is a cheaper option.''

Unison, Britain's biggest public sector workers' union, warned private provision would worsen problems by creating a two-tier workforce and competition for scarce resources.