§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what factual evidence exists for the theory advanced in the North-West regional health authority's strategic plan that the natural catchment population for hospitals is influenced by the public or general practitioners choosing hospitals on the basis of proximity.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkePeople who require hospital admission are referred by their general practitioner to a consultant. The proximity of a hospital to a patient's home is clearly likely to be a major influence in general practitioners' referral decisions and there is research evidence which confirms this. I am sending the right hon. Member details.