HC Deb 14 February 1996 vol 271 cc603-4W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulatory machinery covers private medical care. [14723]

Mr. Malone

Doctors providing private medical care remain subject to the provisions of the Medical Act 1983, as amended, and to the standards of professional conduct set down by the General Medical Council.

Subject to a number of exceptions, set out in the Act, facilities to be used for private medical care are required to register with the local health authority under the Registered Homes Act 1984 where it is intended that (a) patients will stay overnight, (b) pregnant women or women immediately after childbirth will be received, (c) surgical procedures will be carried out under anaesthesia, (d) termination of pregnancies will be conducted, (e) endoscopies will be carried out, (f) haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis will be conducted, or (g) treatment by specially controlled techniques—currently treatment by class 3B and class 4 lasers—will take place.