NHS (Private Patients) (Hansard, 15 February 1988)

§ Mr. Newton

As from 1 April 1987, health authorities have had the function of determining the charges they will apply to their private patient facilities. Each authority must set its charges annually from 1 April each year. They will do so either by setting their own charges to recover costs or by adopting a centrally calculated list of model charges.

The central reference lists of model charges for private in-patients and private out-patients for the year from 1 April are given in the tables.

For private in-patients, the model charges for 1988–89 are on average 6.3 per cent. higher than those for 1987–88. The model charges are inclusive daily amounts based on the cost of providing accommodation and services for all patients. The figures take account of increased costs (including capital depreciation) and as last year also reflect the fact that private patients have shorter lengths of stay than NHS patients. The figures also take account of the fact that a number of authorities have set their own inpatient charges; where this has happened the hospitals concerned have been removed from the model list calculations. As a result, charges in one category have gone down, and model charges are no longer needed for another category.

For private out-patients, the model charges for 1988–89 are on average 6.5 per cent. higher than for 1987–88. Charges for amenity beds are unchanged.

499W

Private non—resident charges 1988–89
	Class A to E	Class F+ G
Item of Service	1987–88	1988–89	Percentage change	1987–88	1988–89	Percentage change
1. Consultation	6.50	7.00	+7.7	12.00	13.00	+8.3
2. (i) Day cases	26.50	28.50	+7.5	27.50	29.50	+7.3
(ii) Day patients	3100	34.00	+9.7	32.00	35.00	+9.4
3 Pathology	7.00	7.50	+7.1	13.50	15.00	+ 11.1
4. Radiography
(i) Per unit value	0.78	n.a.	n.a.	1.00	n.a.	n.a.
(ii) Minimum charge	12.50	13.50	+8.0	16.00	18.50	+15.6
(iii) CT scanning	96.00	96.00	no change	115.00	115.00	no change
5. Radiotherapy	18.00	18.00	no change	44.50	44.50	no change
6. Physiotherapy	5.00	5.50	+ 10.0	9.00	11.50	+27.8
7. Occupational Therapy	7.00	8.50	+21.4	10.00	10.00	no change
8 Other diagnostic procedures
(i) Audiometry	5.00	5.00	no change	5.00	5.00	no change
(ii) ECG	9.00	9.50	+5.6	16.50	17.50	+6.1
(iii) EEG	37.00	38.50	+41	72.50	83.50	+15.2
(iv) EMG	23.00	24.00	+4.3	44.50	50.50	+13.5
9. Use of Operating theatres
(i) Less than 10 minutes	22.00	22.50	+2.3	27.00	28.00	+3.7
(ii). 10–30 minutes	42.50	44.00	+3.5	54.00	56.00	+3.7
(iii) More than 30 minutes	64.50	67.00	+3.9	81.00	84.00	+3.7