HC Deb 09 May 1984 vol 59 c399W
Mr.Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what estimate he makes of the extent of the use of National Health Service facilities for private patients for which no payment or an under-payment is made; and if he will undertake a national inquiry to establish accurately the extent or manner in which the National Health Service is not fully reimbursed for use of its premises, equipment and staff for purposes of treating private patients, especially in the light of the north Birmingham revelations;

(2) if he is satisfied with the monitoring of use of National Health Service facilities for private patients on the question of full subsequent repayments; and what steps he proposes to take to improve this monitoring system in the light of its breakdown as indicated by the north Birmingham district health authority revelations;

(3) if he will set up a public committee of inquiry into revelations from the north Birmingham district health authority that sums of around £100,000 have been appropriated by consultants working in the National Health Service at the Good Hope hospital as a result of private treatment of cancer patients with National Health Service facilities for which no payment was made to the National Health Service.

Mr.Fowler

I regard it as important to ensure that the arrangements for managing private practice in the NHS are operating effectively. Comprehensive and detailed guidance on this subject, including the collection of charges, has been given to health authorities on several recent occasions and they have been asked to bring it to the attention of all staff involved in the reception, admission and treatment of private patients.

I have now arranged for the Department's statutory auditors to examine the handling of private patients' charges in hospitals and I shall consider in the light of their findings whether action is needed.

Alleged irregularities in the handling of private patients' charges at Good Hope hospital, Sutton Coldfield, are being investigated by the police, the Inland Revenue and my Department. The Director of Public Prosecutions is being kept informed.