§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedure he has established to ensure that where a patient is removed from the UK waiting list of a NHS consultant, the consultant is(a) kept informed of the clinical outcomes and (b) involved in their postoperative care. [136742]
§ Mr. HuttonAny patient referred from the National Health Service to an independent provider (including an overseas provider) will have a discharge letter completed by the independent provider. This is forwarded to their NHS consultant and general practitioner. Where orthopaedic patients are treated abroad, there is support and agreement to register these patients on the United Kingdom national joint registry.
Care and follow-up arrangements are arranged according to individual needs. Patients who are sent abroad for treatment will remain in the care of the overseas consultant for a period of two to three weeks depending on the treatment they receive. The patient is formally discharged following a post-operative assessment carried out usually between six and eight weeks post-treatment. If the patient requires treatment in the interim, he or she is entitled to seek a referral to NHS provision through the usual routes by GP or 1129W emergency admission, should this be required. Overseas consultants are happy to discuss the clinical care of NHS patients by telephone should the patients UK consultant wish to do so.