§ Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what requirements there are for health authorities to notify other health authorities of patients who have been placed in private establishments in other health authority areas.
§ Mr. MoyleHealth authorities have been advised that where an area health authority wishes to make use of a voluntary hospital outside its area for National Health Service patients it should ask the "home" authority to negotiate an appropriate contract, including the capitation fee, the scrutiny of the accounts and any necessary inspection to assess standards. Admissions to the voluntary hospital would then be made in accordance with these contractual arrangements and within any agreed limit on the number of beds to be used by a particular authority. The admitting authority should notify the "home" authority of the admission and should carry financial responsibility for the patient.
§ Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients from other health authorities have been moved over the last year to the area of the Essex Health Authority and, 73W in particular, to the Harwich constituency of north-east Essex; and what numbers of these have been moved to private establishments.
§ Mr. MoyleThe number of in-patients transferred to NHS hospitals in Essex Area Health Authority from hospitals outside that area is not readily available. In the 14 months period ending 31st May 1978, 998 patients were admitted to independent contractual establishments from outside Essex, 667 of whom were admitted to a home near Clacton.