§ Mr. W. Griffithsasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a general medical practitioner has been fined by an executive council in the area covered by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board for his part in a case where a consultant had accepted a patient privately on the understanding that to wait for the required medical attention through the National Health Service would result in a long delay; whether the matter has been reported to the Manchester Regional Hospital Board; and what action it is proposed to take to investigate the consultant's part in the transaction.
§ Miss PittI assume the hon. Member is referring to a case in which, following a failure on the part of the general practitioner to arrange for a patient to secure treatment under the hospital and specialist services, recovery from his remuneration was made of a sum equal to the expenses incurred by the patient 167W in obtaining treatment privately. In connection with this case, which did not concern any hospital in the Manchester Region, the hospital board concerned made inquiries into allegations against a consultant but nothing came to light which would give grounds for action against him.