§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the actual cost per week to the health service of taking care of private overseas patients compared with the average price paid by such patients; and if she will make a statement.
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§ Dr. OwenInformation in the form requested is not available, since actual costs of taking care of individual patients, NHS or private, in NHS hospitals are not separately recorded. All private patients in NHS hospitals pay the charges for hospital accommodation and services determined annually by my right hon. Friend. In determining such charges my right hon. Friend is required by statute to have regard to the total estimated cost of providing services for resident private patients in hospital. The charges do not therefore take account of the differing circumstances of individual patients.
The charge per week for a private patient receiving private medical treatment and accommodated in a single room is £123.90 in a non-teaching acute hospital and £172.90 in a London teaching hospital. Fees for private medical treatment which are additional to this are a matter for negotiation between the patient and consultant concerned.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of open-heart surgery at cardiac surgery centres in London is performed on private fee-paying overseas patients; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenI have no information about treatment given in hospitals outside the NHS and no statistics distinguishing between foreign residents and others treated in private pay beds in the NHS. I cannot therefore give the information requested by my hon. Friend.