§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any extra National Health Service consultants have had to be appointed in each region and in each specialty to replace established consultants who are spending more of their time carrying out private medical care.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo. It has always been the case that private practice by National Health Service consultants must not be undertaken at the expense of their National Health Service duties. This was re-emphasised in the recent agreement which allowed whole-time consultants to undertake private practice. Since this agreement, there has in fact been an overall increase in the commitment by consultants to National Health Service services.