§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether the Warwickshire area health authority is contracting out abortions to clinics in the private sector; and what is the estimated cost per patient to the National Health Service;
(2) what is his policy in respect of local area health authorities contracting out abortions to clinics in the private sector;
(3) whether, since at least 50 per cent. of women receiving legal abortions under the Abortion Act 1967 still have to find the resources and the money to go into the private sector, he will take steps to improve the availability of National Health Service abortions.
735W
§ Dr. VaughanI have been informed that the Warwickshire area health authority has accepted the principle of using an outside agency in its abortion service, but that it has set up a working party to formulate detailed proposals. I understand that the charge per patient would be likely to be in the range of £65£80. For an authority to enter into contractual arrangements with the private sector would not be inconsistent with the Government's general policy of encouraging health authorities to make use of arrangements with private hospitals and clinics for the provision of services for the National Health Service patients.
A decision on the level of services generally for abortion, and on how such services should be developed is in any particular case one for the health authority concerned to make in the light of local circumstances.