§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will conduct an inquiry into the charges and standards of private hospitals in Scotland; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when he expects to issue new regulations on medical procedures and standards to be adopted by private hospitals in Scotland;
(3) if he will introduce legislation to give health boards the power to inspect the charges and standards of private hospitals and to oblige them to issue a yearly report on the operation of such hospitals.
§ Mr. John MacKayHealth boards are at present empowered to maintain a register of private nursing homes and hospitals and to inspect such establishments at regular intervals to ensure that standards are properly maintained. Boards have the power to cancel registration if the appropriate requirements are not being met. There is no evidence to suggest that boards to not undertake their functions efficiently and effectively. It is proposed, however, to strengthen boards' powers by new regulations to extend the control they may exercise over the conduct of private nursing homes and hospitals, the facilities and services and the production of records. It is not intended to require boards to make a yearly report on the exercise of their powers. The new regulations will be issued shortly in draft form for consultation purposes to health boards and other interested organisations.
Charges levied by private nursing homes and hospitals are solely a matter for the management of such establishments and there are no plans to conduct an inquiry as proposed, or to take powers to regulate these charges.