HL Deb 28 June 1979 vol 400 cc1689-90WA
The Marquess of LOTHIAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they would permit similar arrangements to those proposed by the Warwickshire Health Authority for abortions involving healthy women with healthy foetuses in private clinics, to be provided for unhealthy women who have been on National Health Service waiting lists for considerable periods, thus suffering deferral of operations for painful and debilitating conditions.

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

In his address last week to the National Association of Health Authorities, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services asked Health Authorities to consider making greater use of contractual arrangements with private hospitals and clinics for the provision of services for National Health Service patients. It will however remain for individual authorities to decide whether, for what services and to what extent, they wish to make use of private establishments.

The Marquess of LOTHIAN asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can confirm the report in the Medical News of 28th February 1979, that the Warwickshire Area Health Authority may contract out abortions to clinics in the private sector; whether they agree with this proposal, and what is the estimated cost per patient to the National Health Service.

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

I have seen the report inMedical News referred to by my noble friend: the facts are that my right honourable friend has been informed that the Warwickshire Health Authority has accepted the principle of using outside agency in its abortion service, but has set up a working party to formulate detailed proposals. A decision 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 National Health Service patients; the decision, however, is in any particular case one for the health authority concerned to make in the light of local circumstances and needs, which they are best able to assess. I understand that the charge per patient would be likely to be in the range of £65–£80.