§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has given regarding(a) the ownership of private medical companies by general practitioner fund holders and (b) the referral of patients for treatment by such companies by fund holders involved in the companies.
§ Dr. MawhinneyRegulation 3(2) of the National Health Service (Fund-holding Practices) (General) Regulations 1991 requires GP fund holders to obtain the written consent of the regional health authority before they are able to use the practice fund to purchase any services from a body with which they have a particular connection. This would include a contract placed with any medical companies in which any member of the fund holding practice had a financial interest, for example, as director or employee. These regulations were issued to all GP fund holders.