National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978

[F1 57 Accommodation and services for private patients. S

(1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied, in the case of a health service hospital [F2 vested in the Secretary of State] that it is reasonable to do so, he may authorise accommodation and services at the hospital in question to be made available, to such extent as he may determine, for patients who give undertakings (or for whom undertakings are given) to pay, in respect of the accommodation and services made available, such charges as the Secretary of State may determine and may make and recover such charges as he may determine in respect of such accommodation and services and calculate them on any basis that he considers to be the appropriate commercial basis; but he shall do so only if and to the extent that he is satisfied that to do so—

(a) will not to a significant extent interfere with the performance by him of any duty imposed on him by this Act to provide accommodation or services of any kind; and

(b) will not to a significant extent operate to the disadvantage of persons seeking or afforded admission or access to accommodation or services at health service hospitals (whether as resident or non-resident patients) otherwise than under this section.

(2) The Secretary of State may allow accommodation and services to which an authorisation under subsection (1) above relates to be made available in connection with treatment, in pursuance of arrangements made by a medical practitioner or dental practitioner serving (whether in an honorary or paid capacity) on the staff of a health service hospital for the treatment of private patients of that practitioner.

[F3 (3) The Secretary of State shall revoke an authorisation under this section only if and to the extent that he is satisfied that sufficient accommodation and facilities for the private practice of medicine and dentistry are otherwise reasonably available (whether privately or at health service hospitals) to meet the reasonable demand for them in the area served by the hospital in question.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 57 substituted for ss. 57, 58 by Health and Medicines Act 1988 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), s. 7(11)

F2 Words inserted by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(1), Sch. 9 para. 19(10)

F3 Section 57(3) repealed (1.4.1991) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 66(2), Sch. 10

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 57 applied (1.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/686, art. 5(1), Sch. Pt. I