§ 13. Mr. Sean Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has given to health authorities about levying charges for treating patients from other health authorities.
§ 18. Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he is offering to health authorities on charging other health authorities for services provided.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department is to discuss draft guidance on this issue with regional health authority treasurers at one of their regular meetings later this week. This will confirm the current legal position; that health authorities may enter into a charging arrangement by mutual consent but that an individual authority may neither impose a charge unilaterally nor refuse to treat a patient if no payment is made.