§ Mr. Haydn Daviesasked the Minister of Health to what extent it is proposed to obtain equipment and supplies for hospitals under the National Health Service by centralised purchase, in place of the present system of purchase by individual hospitals; and whether a similar policy will be applied to installation and maintenance services.
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§ Mr. BevanHospital equipment and supplies cover a wide range. For some items, there may be advantage in central purchase. But where present methods of supply and servicing are working satisfactorily it is not proposed, at the outset of the new service, to interfere with them. For the time being central purchase will be limited to major equipment which is in short supply, and various other items which may be found to lend themselves to central purchase on grounds of economy or better efficiency.