HC Deb 17 February 1988 vol 127 c623W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will gather and publish from each district health authority information regarding the number, kind and cost of operations which they have bought from privately owned health facilities; and what priority his Department attaches to such information in the carrying out of the review on the funding of the National Health Service.

Mr. Moore

An annual return is made of contractual arrangements between National Health Service hospitals and private hospitals and a copy of the most recent return (1986) has been placed in the Library. This information relates to the number of patients treated by specialty. Details of the number, type and cost of operations performed under these arrangements are not kept centrally. We have already indicated that our internal review of the NHS will be wide ranging and fundamental. In reaching conclusions, we will want to take into account all relevant information.