§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what safeguards exist to protect patients offered operations on hire purchase by private clinics; and what recourse there is for a patient who is led to believe that he or she needs an operation and can afford it when the cost is spread over a year or more.
§ Mr. Moyle:Private medical treatment is a matter between the patient, his medical advisors and the private clinic. Private clinics providing credit facilities to individuals have to obtain a licence under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 which places on the Director General of Fair Trading the duty of administering the licensing system