§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many surgical operations have been carried out on citizens living within the Birmingham area health authority area by the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham area health authority during 1980; what transfer payments between the two authorities have taken place in respect of these operations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungDetailed information of this kind is not routinely held by the Department and the hon. Member may like to contact the area health authorities direct.
There is nothing to prevent a health authority agreeing with another to provide a particular service on its behalf, and for such arrangements to be funded directly by the receiving authority. For inpatient services, however, such a procedure would be exceptional, since in the normal way resource allocations to health authorities take into account inpatient services provided for other health authorities.