§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients from Waltham Forest seeking admission to St. Bartholomew's hospital since the beginning of the current year have been refused as a result of the new policy on catchment areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe hon. Member may wish to approach the chairman of the North-East Thames regional health authority. since information about decisions on referrals of patients from one health authority area to hospitals in another is not held centrally. It should, however, be noted that the guidance to general practitioners whose referrals from outside the City and Hackney health authority catchment area are not accepted is that the case for acceptance will be reassessed if the referring doctor considers this is warranted.