§ 37. Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of ministerial statements that the National Health Service has a public duty to provide accommodation for a patient who needs immediate admission to hospital in an emergency, what redress a patient has against his Department if such a duty is not fulfilled.
§ Mr. MoyleIt is my duty to provide hospital accommodation in England as I consider necessary to meet all reasonable requirements. The function of providing that accommodation has been delegated to area health authorities, from whom a patient should seek redress if he is dissatisfied. A patient is not entitled to particular treatment or care from an NHS authority but, where the responsible NHS consultant decides that a patient needs immediate admission to hospital, every effort is made to arrange this. If the patient is dissatisfied with the response of the area health authority he may be able to pursue his complaint via the Health Service Commissioner.
§ Mr. George Gardinerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for every year since 1968 the number of hospitals where admissions have been restricted as a result of industrial action within the hospital.
§ Mr. MoyleInformation about the number of hospitals where admissions have been restricted as a result of industrial action within the hospital is not available centrally.