§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend to doctors working in trusts the existing rights that hospital doctors have in paragraph 330 of their terms and conditions of service to speak out in the interests of their patients' health; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is for national health service trusts to agree terms and conditions with doctors and other staff whom they employ. However, I am currently consulting widely on a proposal to issue guidance to the national health service—including NHS trusts—on the rights and responsibilities of managers and staff in this matter.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to allow trust hospitals to sell off pathology or related services to the private sector; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is for trusts themselves to decide whether it would be better to provide their own pathology services or to subcontract with other national health service or independent providers of such services. Whatever they decide, trusts must include pathology costs in the overall price of the relevant contract with their 387W purchasers, and must not charge individuals for pathology services which are provided as part of national health service treatment.