§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the event of limited demand from private patients for treatment with the lithotripter at St. Thomas's hospital, there will be any contractual restrictions on the use of the machine by National Health Service patients; and whether his Department has undertaken to meet any extra costs incurred in treating National Health Service patients.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe contract between the British United Provident Association and West Lambeth health authority provides that lithotripsy facilities not taken up by private patients shall be made available to NHS patients. No specific arrangement has been made for additional funds to be made available to the authority by our Department in the event of such a situation arising. It would be for the authority to make a request for additional funds.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether inpatient charges for patients using the lithotripter at St. Thomas's hospital will be payable by the British United Provident Association or by the patients themselves;
(2) whether private patients using the lithotripter at St. Thomas's hospital will face any charges to the British United Provident Association.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe British United Provident Association will pay West Lambeth health authority the full cost of the lithotripsy service provided by the authority for private patients, both inpatients and day-patients. The association will be able to charge private patients or their sponsors to recover its costs. The level of charges will be subject to agreement with West Lambeth health authority. The association, which owns the lithotripter, will be able to make differential charges between its own subscribers and other patients.
I am sorry if my reply of 29 October, at column 850, to the hon. Member did not make the procedures entirely clear.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the paybed authorisations at St. Thomas's hospital refer to beds which are used by National Health Service patients when not occupied by private patients.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes. it is our policy for pay-beds in the NHS to be available for use by NHS patients when not occupied by private patients.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether the consultants treating private patients with the lithotripter at St. Thomas's hospital will all be employees of South-East Thames regional health authority some of whose National Health Service work is within the West Lambeth health district;
(2) whether the approval of West Lambeth health authority will be needed before consultants not normally employed within St. Thomas's hospital are entitled to treat private patients with the lithotripter.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe consultants treating private lithotripter patients at St Thomas's hospital will all be employees of West Lambeth health authority.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether consultants wishing to treat private patients with the lithotripter at St. Thomas's hospital will face any charge to the British United Provident Association.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNo.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the British United Provident Association will have any say in the choice of private patients admitted to St. Thomas's hospital for treatment using the lithotripter.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeBoth private and NHS patients will be selected for lithotripsy treatment by a medical panel according to the suitability of the condition for this treatment, clinical need, and the urgency of the case.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to revise the six principles agreed with the medical profession to ensure the equitable operation of private practice in the light of the recent use of equipment (a) donated by public fund-raising or private companies or (b) owned by private companies.
§ Mr. John PattenNo, there is no need for a revision.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in assessing the benefits of accepting the lithotripter machine at St. Thomas's hospital, he took into account the fees receivable by consultants treating private patients.
§ Mr. John PattenThe fees receivable by consultants treating private lithotripter patients will be a matter between the consultants and their patients, as is always the case where such fees are payable.