§ 38. Mr. Galleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to encourage co-operation between the National Health Service and the private health sector.
§ Mrs. CurrieWe take every available opportunity to promote collaboration between the National Health Service and the independent health care sector as a means of maximising the benefits to patients from available 197W resources. Health authorities should make use of private sector facilities for the treatment of NHS patients wherever this is a cost-effective way of improving or extending the service they can provide. It is for individual health authorities and private sector providers to get together on specific proposals. Private sector providers should ensure that authorities in their locality are aware of what they have to offer.