§ Mr. Wakehamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the contribution to the National Health Service by the private sector of medicine over the past three years for which figures are available.
§ Dr. OwenThe main direct contribution has been through contractual arrangements between health authorities and independent hospitals, most of which are non profit making. The numbers of patients receiving treatment in this way have been as follows:
In-patients treated Out-patients attendances Beds occupied on 31st December 1972 25,539 209,355 3,566 1973 21,285 200,118 3,401 1974 24,356 203,201 2,980
§ Mr. Wakehamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what she estimates would be the extra annual cost to the National Health Service if all the patients who currently receive their treatment outside the National Health Service were to be treated under the National Health Service.
§ Dr. OwenThe number of patients who seek treatment outside the NHS is not known, and as private treatment outside the NHS will continue to be available no estimate of the cost of treating all these patients under the NHS has been made.