New Lymington Hospital

HC Deb 08 March 2001 vol 364 cc328-9W

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria will be used to determine whether the New Lymington hospital project proceeds as a wholly publicly funded or a PFI project. [151383]

Mr. Denham

Before a decision on the funding of a new hospital can be made we must determine which approach presents the best option for the local community. We must consider whether a scheme would be better value for the National Health Service and the taxpayer under private finance initiative than it would be under the equivalent publicly funded alternative . Support for the scheme from key local stakeholders and the ability of local health authorities and those that commission services to meet the overall cost of that scheme would also be key factors.

A project board has been established to oversee the process of reviewing the service and funding options for the new hospital.