§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what feasibility studies have been set up, and what results obtained, in respect of managerial income generation, by regional health authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanSince the coming into effect of section 7 of the Health and Medicines Act 1988, all health authorities have the legal means, and have been encouraged to seek ways in which they may develop secondary sources of income to enhance and improve patient care, provided that any such scheme does not act to the detriment of patients themselves.
Returns for the initial period of the income generation initiative reveal that during the tax year 1988–89, the net profit to English health authorities was close to £10 million.