Sir Rod Stewart surprised TV viewers today offering to pay for NHS patients to get private medical scans live on TV. The musician called Sky News this afternoon (January 26) to make the generous offer.
He surprised news reader Sarah-Jane Mee by phoning the live show to offer to help patients. He said he came to the decision after discovering the private health clinic he attends was empty.
Sir Rod said: "I have been watching the programme all day and yes, I went for my yearly scan which is private, obviously, and I was 20 minutes late. I phoned in and I said, 'I'm terribly sorry I will be there. I will be half an hour late.' I get there and I said, 'I'm so sorry I am late'.
"And they said, 'we're not busy at all. We have only got a couple of customers in today'.
Sir Rod was shocked by the news that the medical clinic, which he did not name, was empty when so many people are struggling to get scans through the NHS. He said he wanted to pay for some people's scans and hoped others would follow suit.
He added: "The point being, this is ridiculous. I would like to pay for 10 or 20 scans. I don't know how we are going to work it out and hopefully, some other people will follow as it seems ridiculous that this particular scanning clinic was empty and there are people dying because they cannot get scans."
"Now listen to me, I don't need the publicity. I just want to do some good things and this I think is a good thing. And if other people follow me I would love it."
