§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what decisions he has made to allow community physicians to earn extra salary by doing private practice work; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have agreed in principle that whole-time community physicians of consultant status should be permitted to undertake private practice, provided that the earnings from such work do not exceed 10 per cent. of the doctor's NHS salary. This mirrors the arrangements introduced for whole-time consultants in 1979. The details, including the question of safeguards for the interests of the NHS, are still to be negotiated. Part-time community physicians already have the right to work privately outside the hours for which they are contracted to the NHS.