§ 24. Mr. Ian Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what her intentions are in respect of out-patient facilities for private patients currently provided and charged for by NHS hospitals.
§ Mrs. CastleThe consultative document proposes legislation to withdraw facilities for private out-patients in NHS hospitals, though any patient ordinarily resident in this country will still be entitled to receive treatment on the same basis and subject to the same conditions as any NHS patient. I am also willing to examine the possibility of continuing to make available to private hospitals or clinics on a contract basis certain highly specialised procedures such as radiotherapy.