§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give, for the latest available year, the total number of operations performed on private patients in National Health Service hospitals in England, breaking the figure down (a) by region and (b) by speciality;
(2) if he will give, for the latest available year, the total number of procedures, other than operations, performed for private patients in National Health Service hospitals in England, breaking the figure down (a) by region and (b)by speciality.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the existing arrangements for the payment of charges by private patients; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. Health authorities have been given guidance on the recovery of charges and the avoidance of bad debts, and we have no reason to believe that the arrangements adopted are not in general working well.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for the latest available year and for each district and each region (a) the number of authorised pay beds at 31 December, (b) the number of deaths and discharges of private patients and (c) the average daily occupation of pay beds by private patients.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why charges for services provided to private hospitals by the National Health Service are allowed on unit costs, making no allowance for capital costs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeCharges for services provided by health authorities to private hospitals are for local determination. Arrangements of this nature should normally cover the full cost (including capital) to the NHS, but a flexible approach can be adopted if this is of benefit to the NHS.