Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Monday, 10 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 November 2008. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

NHS: Private Sector

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 9.6 of his Department’s consultation document on Guidance on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care, what his Department’s definition is of unreasonable profit.

Answer: The draft revised guidance the Department published on 4 November sets out the clear principles that should be applied to every situation where a national health service patient chooses to purchase additional care privately.One of these principles is that the NHS should not be seen to be profiting unreasonably from patients in these circumstances.The Department does not consider it sensible to try to define this at a national level and the Government do not set prices for private healthcare. Instead, the principle set out in the guidance sets a clear expectation to all NHS organisations that any charges they make in their capacity as providers of private care must be reasonable and justifiable. It is then for NHS organisations to apply this principle locally, in line with their particular local circumstances.A copy of the guidance has already been placed in the Library.

Secondary information