HC Deb 26 October 1984 vol 65 cc750-1W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many times a year he estimates that consultants see a patient privately at an outpatient clinic and then, for a consideration, place that patient at or near the top of the queue for admission as a National Health Service patient to a National Health Service hospital.

Mr. John Patten

It is contrary to the six principles on private practice in NHS hospitals, which we agreed with the medical profession, for earlier private consultation to lead to earlier NHS admission; and it is completely unacceptable for a consultant to receive payment to provide NHS treatment to a patient earlier than it would otherwise be available. If any consultant did so—and we are not aware of any who has—I would expect his employing authority to take disciplinary action.