HC Deb 02 November 1993 vol 231 cc170-1W
Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will outline rights private general practitioners have in referring to NHS hospitals.

Dr. Mawhinney

All fully registered medical practitioners can refer patients to national health service hospitals irrespective of whether they are treating them privately or under the NHS. The priority afforded to referrals from a private general practitioner, as with those from an NHS GP, is a matter for clinical decision.