§ 47. Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to introduce long-term contracts with private hospitals.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt has always, since the beginning of the NHS, been open to individual health authorities to decide to enter into contractual arrangements with private health institutions for the care and treatment of Health Service patients. The latest guidance on this and on other ways in which the two sectors of health care can co-operate to mutual advantage was given in health circular (81)1. We believe that such arrangements should be considered by health authorities and adopted where they can operate to the advantage of the NHS and its patients.