§ Clive EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to monitor how many patients originally referred to a NHS consultant finally receive treatment in the private sector from the same consultant. [72222]
§ Mr. HuttonThis Department does not collect information about private patients treated in private hospitals. We have agreed as part of the framework for the new consultant contract that there will be contractual provisions governing the relationship between private practice and National Health Service commitments, based on the principle that an NHS consultant's commitment to the NHS must take priority over any work undertaken for other organisations. The detail of the provisions is under discussion, but we have agreed that consultants will be required to inform employers of their private practice commitments, as part of their annual job planning and appraisal process.
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§ Clive EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce regulations to prevent consultants treating patients in their private practices that were originally referred to them through the NHS. [72221]
§ Mr. HuttonWe have agreed as part of the framework for the new consultant contract that there will be contractual provisions governing the relationship between private practice and National Health Service commitments. These provisions will he based on the principle that an NHS consultant's commitment to the NHS must take priority over any work undertaken for other organisations and designed to minimise the potential for actual or perceived conflicts of interest. One of the key principles is that consultants should not allow private practice to disrupt the provision of NHS services or have any adverse impact on NHS performance or delivery of NHS commitments. The detail of the provisions is under discussion, but we have agreed that the areas covered by the new rules will include the transfer of patients between the NHS and private sector, and management of NHS waiting lists.