Surgical Treatment (Package Tours)

HC Deb 28 January 1981 vol 997 cc433-4W

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the growth in package tours incorporating surgical treatment will not operate to the detriment of the resources of the National Health Service, including manpower; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Vaughan

Yes. The United Kingdom has always been an international centre of medical excellence. This benefits the NHS both in terms of pay bed income and the standing of the service as well as having indirect benefits for both trade and international good will. The recently announced British Airways (American Medical (Europe)) scheme is a continuation of this tradition. The 1976 and 1980 Health Services Acts contain powers to ensure that the NHS—including staffing—is not adversely affected to any significant extent by private hospital developments or use of NHS beds as pay beds.