§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a system of monitoring of the services provided for private patients by the National Health Service to ensure that these are properly paid for in every instance, and to ensure that the charges are economic and realistic.
§ Dr. VaughanIt is for individual health authorities to make appropriate arrangements for the satisfactory management of private practice within the NHS. With minimal exceptions the charges payable by private patients are set by my right hon. Friend under the NHS legislation and are calculated on the basis of average total costs to the NHS of providing the services.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has evidence that consultants do not pay for either (a) National Health Service laboratory tests or (b) National Health Service hospital beds for their private patients; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanUnder the NHS legislation it is the private patients not the consultants who are responsible for paying the appropriate charges for accommodation arid services.