§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures are being taken to ensure that Health Care International does not compete with the national health service in Scotland.
§ Mr. StewartThe HCI hospital at Clydebank will not compete with the NHS for patients. The hospital is to focus on the treatment of overseas patients; NHS hospitals will continue to treat United Kingdom patients unless a health board determines that it would be in the best clinical interests for a patient to receive treatment outwith an NHS facility.
Furthermore, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), the then Secretary of State for Scotland, took steps, at the time of the HCI application to build the hospital, to safeguard the position of the NHS. The application was subject to a rigorous consultative process under the health service Acts. Acceptance by HCI of the consequential stringent conditions designed to protect the NHS was a prerequisite of the authorisation given by my right hon. and learned Friend to the building and operation of the hospital. These conditions relate to the recruitment of medical and nursing staff, the pay and conditions of service of these staff and the supply of blood and blood products. The relevant NHS interests and medical institutions are currently discussing these various aspects with HCI to ensure that the hospital fully meets the specified conditions and that NHS interests are effectively safeguarded.