§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider taking measures, namely, requiring a substantial deposit in advance, to guard against the danger of default of payment by foreign nationals requesting private medical treatment in the National Health Service.
§ Sir George YoungResponsibility for collecting charges from private patients, including foreign nationals, in NHS hospitals rests with the health authority concerned, which may take a deposit from private patients in advance of admission. Present departmental guidance is that authorities should consider doing so; this will be repeated and strengthened in this year's circular to authorities setting out new private patient charges.