HC Deb 01 March 1989 vol 148 cc232-3W
52. Mr. Riddick

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of resources for direct patient care he expects to be released through competitive tendering in the National Health Service.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Contracts awarded so far will release £15.6 million over the next three years for reinvestment in direct patient care. This is equivalent to the cost of around 2,600 bypass operations or 5,300 hip replacement operations or could buy around 1,500 renal dialysis machines.