§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the total amount of financial penalties imposed on hospitals for having patients wait over 18 months for surgery; if she will break the figure down by financial year; and if she will list the hospitals concerned, by region.
§ Dr. MawhinneyRegions have been given allocations from the waiting times fund on the understanding that deductions would be made for specific breaches of the patients charter guarantees. These deductions act as an incentive to good management and some regions therefore pass them on to the responsible provider units. Deductions are not collected directly from provider units.