§ 28. Mr. Harry Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many health boards have intimated to him decisions not to accept private outpatients at National Health Service hospitals; and how many health board decisions on this matter he has overruled.
§ Mr. John MacKayEleven health boards have submitted to my right hon. Friend for his consideration applications from hospital medical and dental practitioners for private outpatient facilities in the NHS; nine of the boards did not recommend authorisation of the applications. He has authorised the applications in full in 10 board areas and in part in one area—subject, of course, to the statutory requirement that the provision of such private facilities should not significantly interfere with services for NHS patients or disadvantage such patients.