HC Deb 18 December 1997 vol 303 c328W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what methods his Department uses to monitor the level of private work undertaken by NHS consultants; [21019]

(2) what action he is taking to encourage consultants who draw a full NHS salary to limit the amount of private work which they undertake. [21248]

Mr. Milburn

National Health Service consultants are required to devote substantially the whole of their professional time to their NHS duties. Whole-time NHS consultants are permitted to have private practice earnings of up to a maximum of 10 per cent. of their gross NHS salary. Employers where necessary, may ask a consultant to produce fully-audited accounts as a means of certification of the level of private practice work.