§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he will now take to prevent general practitioners from charging patients contrary to their terms of National Health Service rules in the light of the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, South.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinNone is needed. General medical practitioners are aware from their terms of service that they are precluded from demanding or accepting a fee for any treatment—with a very few certain exceptions—provided for their NHS patients. Regulations provide for the investigation, by medical service committees of family practitioner committees, of allegations of breaches of the terms of service. Such allegations may arise from individual complaints, or be referred by the FPC for investigation on the basis of information received, always provided that persons are prepared to give evidence about the events in question.