HC Deb 13 January 2003 vol 397 c500W
Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to determine whether an organisation is a part of the NHS. [87902]

Mr. Hutton

National health service services are provided by a mix of public and private sector organisations. The service provided for NHS patients must be free at the point of use and provided according to clinical need not ability to pay.