HC Deb 15 June 1993 vol 226 c508W
Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to ensure equality of treatment between patients of fund-holding and non-fund-holding general practitioner practices in the allocation of hospital places.

Dr. Mawhinney

Guidance agreed with the joint consultants committee was issued to hospital consultants in June 1991, in EL(91)84, a copy of which is available in the Library. This stated that waiting times should not be offered to one general practitioner which would disadvantage the patients of another practice. Where a unit has spare capacity, this may be offered to any purchaser.