§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent out by her Department, and subsequently withdrawn, stating that the Department is at present reviewing the question of permissions for private 413W patients in health centres and the conditions which should be applied to them; and the circumstances in which this letter was both issued and recalled.
§ Dr. OwenA number of letters were sent in reply to inquiries from five area health authorities and their associated family practitioner committees about applications by doctors for approval to undertake private practice in health centres. The only reference in these letters—a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House—to the question of reviewing the arrangements for private practice at health centres related to facilities which might be provided at a health centre as well as its other family practitioner services. Despite this, misinterpretations of the letter appeared in the Press, and so a further letter was sent to health authorities and to the British Medical Association in early December. This letter repeated the Secretary of State's undertaking given on 9th October that
Family doctors can continue to see their private patients in healtth centres and consultants can continue to treat their private patients in facilities separate from NHS hospitalsand stated thatthere is no question, nor has there been of the arrangements for family practitioner services being other than the Secretary of State has stated.A copy of this letter has also been placed in the Library of the House.