§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will detail the methods of calculating and of levying the charge to private patients for blood and blood products;
(2) when his commitment to charge for the administrative costs incurred by the National Health Service in supplying private patients with blood and associated products is to be implemented; and if it will apply to private hospitals.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeOne per cent. of the charge to private inpatients in acute NHS hospitals represents the handling and processing costs of blood. This is calculated as the ratio of total revenue expenditure on the national blood transfusion service to that on acute hospital inpatient services. This charge took effect on 1 April 1984.
Handling charges for non-NHS hospitals will be based upon an itemised list promulgated by our Department, which health authorities have been asked to implement with effect from 1 April 1984.