§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment she has made of whether, where NHS hospitals provide private treatment to patients, there is cross subsidy from NHS to private patients;
(2) what assessment she has made of whether, where NHS hospitals offer private treatment to patients, the treatment is at full cost which includes overhead depreciation and profit.
§ Mr. SackvilleHealth authorities and national health service trusts are already aware that they are expected to calculate NHS private patient charges on a commercial basis. Such charges must not be less than the full cost to the health authority or NHS trust including overheads and capital charges and must not involve any cross subsidy from NHS to private patients. This generates valuable income for improving services for all patients.