HC Deb 14 April 1969 vol 781 cc789-90
22. Mr. Michael Heseltine

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what revenue was received in 1967 and in 1968 from insurance companies in payment to National Health Service hospitals for treatment to patients injured in road accidents.

Mr. Ennals

Hospital income in England and Wales from fees and charges under the Road Traffic Act, 1960, was £583,000 in 1966–67 and £611,000 in 1967–68.

Mr. Heseltine

Is not the principle of making charges within the Health Service where an insurance scheme stands behind the patient a sound one? Will the Minister of State consider the possibility of extending insurance schemes of this sort to areas other than those involving motor accidents?

Mr. Ennals

No; I will deal only with the Question that has been tabled. It was a right decision which was taken. Section 5 of the Public Expenditure and Receipts Act, 1968 empowered the Secretary of State to vary the sums specified in the 1960 Act. Since then there has been a regulation which has substantially increased the fees involved. The estimated income for 1969–70 will be over £1 million from this source.

Mr. Pavitt

Will my hon. Friend resist any question of helping to develop private insurance schemes with a view to adding to the income of the National Health Service, since the inevitable consequence would be a first and second class service?

Mr. Ennals

I agree with my hon. Friend's forecast of the outcome and have said this in the House on a number of occasions. However, that aspect does not arise from the Question.

Sir J. Vaughan-Morgan

Is the Minister of State satisfied that payments by insurance companies go anywhere near as far as they could and should towards paying the cost?

Mr. Ennals

Although there has been an increase which will be reflected in the figures for 1969–70, the cost to the hospital service of in-patient and out-patient treatment attributable to road accidents is about £10 million a year.

Mr. Dean

Following on the supplementary question asked by my right hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Sir J. Vaughan-Morgan), does not the Minister of State agree that there is a case for saying that motor insurance should cover a much higher proportion of the cost of the casualty service than it does at present?

Mr. Ennals

As a result of the order which was introduced increasing the fees for emergency treatment from 12s. 6d. to 25s., the maximum charge for out-patient treatment from £5 to £20, and the maximum charge for in-patient treatment from £50 to £200, there has been a substantial increase, which in most cases is borne by the insurance companies.

Mr. Heseltine

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In view of the widespread interest in this matter, I should like to give notice that I shall try to raise this subject on the Adjournment.