§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that, following the implementation of the relevant sections of the National Health Service and Community Care Act, allowance will be made for sums to be paid by the health authorities of patients who receive emergency or other treatment while on holiday in another district health authority area to be held over for expenditure in the succeeding financial year.
§ Mr. DorrellIf a person requires hospital treatment while away from home, the cost will be borne by the local district health authority in the case of outpatient attendance at a casualty department, and by the patient's home district health authority in the case of inpatient treatment. Districts will normally remit treatment costs to NHS providers within one month. It is already possible for health authorities to hold over up to half a per cent. of their budgets from one year to the next.