§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what powers the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority has to write off debts in respect of fees from private patients; what sums have been so written off in each of the last five financial years; and what rights the public have, including recourse to district audit, to inform themselves of the nature of the treatments and establishments concerned.
§ Mr. MoyleAll regional health authorities have powers to write off bad debts for sums not exceeding £500 per case. Accounts submitted to my Department by health authorities do not separately identify the unpaid fees of private patients. Subject to medical confidentiality, it is within the discretion of a health authority to make information, including auditor's reports, available to the public but there is no legal requirement so to do.