§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients have been referred from Scotland to the National Heart Hospital in London for checks or operations in each of the last five years; and from which areas of Scotland the referrals have been made.
§ Dr. OwenThis information could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what other hospitals specialising in major heart operations would be capable of taking patients presently referred from the Tayside Region of Scotland to the National Heart Hospital in London.
§ Dr. OwenThis would depend upon the type of operation required. Hospitals specialising in major heart surgery will carry out most procedures but certain operations are available only at one or two centres.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what travelling arrangements are available to those accompanying patients referred to the National Heart Hospital in London;
(2) what arrangements are made for patients to travel to and from Scotland to the National Heart Hospital in London; and whether it is customary to issue return tickets to such patients.
§ Dr. OwenIt depends on the needs of the patient. The travel arrangements may be made by health authorities or by patients themselves. In either case, whether fares are payable and whether an escort is needed will depend on circumstances. When assistance with fares is made available because of hardship it would normally be given for the journeys to and from the hospital.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are made for overnight accommodation of patients from Scotland attending the National Heart 543W Hospital in London and for those accompanying the patients.
§ Dr. OwenSome accommodation is available for the relatives of patients staying in the National Heart Hospital—for example, the parents of a child patient—when it is necessary. Overnight accommodation is not provided for out-patients or their escorts. Supplementary benefit can be claimed to meet a reasonable charge for overnight accommodation.