§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will give the average total cost of open-heart surgery in National Health Service London hospitals; if she will estimate this cost in real economic terms; if she will indicate the weekly cost to private patients receiving this treatment; if she will indicate to what extent they are being subsidised from public funds; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that information in the detail requested is not available but I am writing to my hon. Friend. It is certain, however, that operations of this type involve costs well above the average but at present the charges to private inpatients are statutorily based on average costs.