A cancer hospital has denied claims NHS cancer treatment will be cut in an effort to make more money from private patients.

The Royal Marsden Hospital announced it wanted to increase income from private patients by 38 per cent by 2013.

But Britain's premier cancer hospital refuted suggestions NHS care will be sacrificed as a result.

The hospital is hoping to boost private earnings by almost £9m this year, taking the total to £54m, nearly a quarter of its turnover and higher than any other trust, but below its limit of 30 per cent.

It plans a further £8.1m rise in 2012-13.

Its plans come amid proposals to remove the limit on the money foundation trusts can get through private earnings.

The Government plans are expected to be fiercely contested in the Lords as part of the Health and Social Care Bill.

The previous Labour Government introduced the limit as it was feared foundation trusts would increase the number of private patients at the expense of NHS patients, but the Royal Marsden has denied this is the case.

In a statement, the hospital said: "Private income is important to us to allow us to invest the surplus in cancer research and treatment. This income is used to benefit all patients - NHS and private care."

It said the private patient income highlighted in its three year plan submitted to NHS regulators, Monitor, was in addition to funding currently received from private practice.

It said it would allow the hospital to maintain its existing levels of service.

The hospital trust recently opened a private care wing Granard House at its Chelsea site, following a fire in 2008 when capacity for private care service was significantly reduced.

It can now increase capacity for private care and its private patient income.

The Health and Social Care Bill was passed by the House of Commons last week with a majority of 65.