HC Deb 08 May 1973 vol 856 cc177-8
1. Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about the procedures used for the financial accounting for, and monitoring of, private patients in National Health Service hospitals.

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Michael Alison)

It is the responsibility of hospital authorities to make arrangements to ensure that accommodation and services are made available for private patients within the extent authorised, that private patients give an undertaking to pay the appropriate hospital charges and to ensure that these charges are collected. These arrangements are subject to examination by the Department's auditors.

Mr. Huckfield

How can the Secretary of State come to conclusions of the kind that he does in his reply to the Select Committee—namely, that private practice benefits the National Health Service— when all the evidence submitted to the Select Committee, especially by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board, shows that there is no standardised form of accounting or monitoring of private practice in hospitals? Will the Department now give very serious consideration to the introduction of a system of accounting whereby private patients are charged for every item and service of which they make use in hospitals?

Mr. Alison

It was the conclusion of the Select Committee of the House itself that private practice operated to the overall benefit of the National Health Service. But my right hon. Friend said that he accepted one of the recommendations of the Select Committee, namely, that control procedures in hospitals should be more strictly observed.

Mr. Fernyhough

Since the hon. Gentleman says that it is left to regional hospital boards to monitor and fix charges, can he say what are the differences in the various regions, and will he publish a list in HANSARD SO that hon. Members can compare one board with another in this respect?

Mr. Alison

I shall certainly consider the right hon. Gentleman's request in detail and see whether I can help him at all.