§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will publish the current guidelines on the use of waiting list initiative funding on(a) British United Provident Association, (b) private consultants and (c) NHS consultants on piecework rates; and if he will make a statement. [15657]
(2) what guidelines he has issued on the removal of patients from eligibility for waiting list initiative funding on the basis of their refusal to accept NHS treatment at (a) non-local hospitals and (b) private hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [15658]
(3) if he will list for each family health service authority the amount agreed with each GP fundholding practice for waiting list initiative funding for out-patient consultation or treatment to be completed by 31 March. [15660]
§ Mr. HagueIt is for health authorities and GP fundholders to decide on the most effective ways of spending the resources available under the waiting times initiative. Purchasers can agree contracts with private hospitals and with consultants on a private basis.
733WThe allocations do not distinguish between the resources available for reducing waiting times for out-patient appointments or for treatment as an in-patient or day case.
No guidance has been issued on the use of waiting times initiative funding for patients who refuse the offer of treatment at NHS hospitals outside their local area or at private hospitals. Such patients can expect to be seen or treated at the hospital of their choice as quickly as local contractual arrangements between purchasers and providers allow. The treatment involved may be funded from waiting times initiative funds or from purchasers' general allocations.
Waiting times initiative allocations to individual GP fundholders are made by family health services authorities from the total amount available for the district as a whole. Details of the allocations made to individual fundholders are not held centrally.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultation she has had with the chairmen of the University Hospital of Wales Trust, the south Glamorgan health authority and the south Glamorgan family health services authority concerning the payments of waiting list initiative funds to GP fundholders for the treatment or diagnosis of long waiting list orthopaedic patients at(a) BUPA, (b) consultants' private consulting rooms an (c) weekend sessions in NHS hospitals. [15661]
§ Mr. HagueNo such consultation has been made. It is for health authorities and GP fundholders, as purchasers of hospital services, to decide on the most effective way of using waiting times initiative funding. In doing so, they are conscious of the need to achieve value for money.