§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average cost in Wales to the Health Service of a hospital pregnancy test; whether the carrying out of such a test by a family medical practitioner is included as part of the service for which no additional fee can be charged; and what consideration has been given to provision of the requisite materials free by the local family practitioner committee.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsInformation about the costs of hospital pregnancy tests is not available centrally. Pregnancy testing is not one of the services for which a general medical practitioner can charge his NHS patients a fee.
Although there is no provision for the direct reimbursement of the costs of requisite diagnostic materials, the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration takes account of practice expenses, including items such as the purchase of materials used in diagnostic tests, in making recommendations on the level of gross fees and allowances to be paid to family doctors.