§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the £109 million cost of the regional health authorities and £325 millon cost of the district regional health authorities and special health authorities is spent directly on patient care in a hospital ward, clinic or surgery, as shown in the draft March 1987 Health Service accounts.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 15 March 1988] : The sums quoted include the headquarters costs of vital management and support functions such as finance, planning, supplies procurement, personnel, computer services, etc., which help to ensure the provision of patient treatment services at hospital and unit level.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if the £630 million cost of administration, general managers and medical record-keeping shown in the March 1987 draft Health Service accounts for England, hospital services, is in addition to the administrative costs of the districts and regions.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 15 March 1988]: Yes. This operational expenditure at hospital level includes medical records (that is the administration of patients' clinical records) and secretarial and clerical support within hospital wards, diagnostic and treatment departments, accident and emergency and outpatient departments, and so on, without which patient treatment could not be carried out.