§ Mr. TredinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will explain the intended effects of the proposals to allow health authorities to purchase health care from hospitals.
§ Mr. FreemanAll National Health Service hospitals, whether run by health authorities or self-governing, will be free to offer their services to different health authorities and to the private sector. Consequently, a health authority will be better able to discharge its duty by using its available funds to secure a comprehensive service, including emergency services, to obtain the best service it can whether from its own hospitals, from another authority's hospitals, from NHS hospital trusts or from the private sector.