HC Deb 20 January 1972 vol 829 cc649-50
14. Mr. Ellis

asked the Minister of State for Defence how the costs charged to British civilians who are inadvertently obliged to stay in British military hospitals abroad are assessed.

Mr. G. Johnson Smith

The charges made for treatment given in Service hospitals overseas to non-entitled United Kingdom civilians are based on the actual day-to-day running costs applicable to United Kingdom Service hospitals in the area.

Mr. Ellis

The Minister will be aware of the facts of the case of one of my constituents who was inadvertently obliged to stay in a military hospital in Germany. Is he aware that £228 for a 12-day stay is regarded by many people as exorbitant, especially when compared with civilian hospital costs in this country, and particularly as the R.A.F. flew the patient home at a cost of less than £19? Will the hon. Gentleman arrange to have a proper costing undertaken to reflect the clearly marginal costs to the military of occasional, inadvertent admissions? Does he not think that in respect of hospital admissions it would be advantageous to have reciprocal arrangements between the United Kingdom and Germany?

Mr. Johnson Smith

The operation of the National Health Service Act is limited to providing services to people in the United Kingdom, and the hon. Gentleman's last suggestion would need quite a change in the Act. People are advised to insure when going overseas, and I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman's constituent insured himself. The hon. Gentleman should bear in mind that there are very few British military hospitals overseas. They are quite small and their overheads are large in comparison with comparable hospitals in the United Kingdom. To allow non-entitled civilians free use of them could put in jeopardy their capacity to meet planned Service requirements.

Dr. David Owen

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that this is a case for discretionary power? Though the charges may be fair when someone resident abroad elects to go into a Service hospital, when someone has to use the facilities inadvertently, through accident or sudden illness, surely it would be fair to reduce the fees, which sound exorbitantly high.

Mr. Johnson Smith

We are not sure whether the constituent of the hon. Member for Wrexham (Mr. Ellis) insured himself. I have pointed out the dangers of the free use of British military hospitals by civilians from the United Kingdom. After all, these hospitals are planned with Service requirements in mind. I will not undertake to look into the principle of charges but I undertake to look at the level of charges in this instance. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will write to me and perhaps let me know to what extent his constituent was insured.