§ 51. Mrs. Rosie BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to take any steps to encourage district health authorities to trade services between one another to reduce waiting lists and improve efficiency.
§ Mr. NewtonAs part of our waiting list initiative we are keen to encourage far better use of all health care capacity and this includes one district making use of temporary spare capacity in another for an agreed number of patients at an agreed cost. I wrote to regional chairmen last December pointing out the scope for health authorities to arrange treatment for waiting list patients in this way.