§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the recent guidance issued by the management executive on extra-contractual referrals and the information to be made available to patients in the light of any deferral of treatment.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNo. It is not appropriate to publish guidance which simply deals with the administrations of the extra-contractual referrals system. Current good practice requires patients to be kept informed of decisions affecting their treatment.
All health authorities have set local charter standards and many have published their own local charters. These include access to detailed information about local health services including waiting times for treatment.