§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the contribution to the balance of payments in 1973 deriving directly from treatment of foreigners as private patients in National Health Service hospitals.
Mr. Dixonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the benefit to the balance of payments of the fees paid by foreigners for pay beds in NHS hospitals and of the con
602Wwill publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing for 1971, 1972, and 1973 the total number of admissions to hospital for psychiatric treatment, divided into informal and compulsory admissions.
§ Dr. OwenThe numbers of admissions to hospitals in England in 1971 and 1972 for treatment for mental disorder are shown below. Figures for 1973 are not yet available.
sequent fees paid to foreigners to consultants using those pay beds.
§ Dr. OwenWe have no information on which to make such an estimate. It is no part of the Government's policy to prevent patients who wish to obtain private medical treatment in this country from doing so in private hospitals or clinics.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much income the National Health Service received in 1973 from the treatment of private patients in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Dr. OwenIn the year ended 31st March 1973 income from the treatment of private in-patients and out-patients at National Health Service hospitals in England was about £12.5 million. The comparable figure for the financial year 1973–74 is not yet available.