§ Dr. GlynTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to take to assist doctors in the London area endeavouring to follow the policy of trying to get beds and facilities for their patients outside their own catchment area, who are being resisted by hospital administrators; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieGeneral practitioners are free to refer their patients to any consultant whom they consider is best able to treat them. Equally, consultants have the right to refuse910W to accept such a referral for any reason. Over the years this right has been extended to include consultants who agree with authorities locally that certain types of patients, usually in the non-acute services—for example, mental illness—will benefit if they are treated within certain catchment areas, normally that within which the patient lives. Consultants may also agree that they will accept referrals from GPs in other districts/regions only if the patients concerned have particular need of their specialist skills.