§ 42. Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy 524W on the question of whether a health authority should provide accommodation when a patient from one of its districts needs admission to hospital immediately as an emergency, in the light of the recent report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe decision whether to admit a patient to a National Health Service hospital rests with the hospital doctor to whom the patient has been referred and is a matter for his clinical judgment. A decision by a hospital doctor below the grade of consultant not to admit a patient to hospital may be referred to the responsible consultant who would decide the matter. I would expect a health authority to provide accommodation for the admission to hospital of a patient who a responsible hospital doctor considered should be admitted immediately as an emergency. I am writing to the hon. Member about the particular case to which he has drawn my attention.