§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has made to monitor the quality of care for United Kingdom patients going abroad to receive NHS treatment; [11045]
(2) how long it will take to put in place systems to guarantee patients high standards of care for treatments taking place abroad. [11043]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 1 November 2001]: Monitoring quality of care is primarily a matter for primary care trusts (PCTs), although we recognise that commissioning care overseas raises particular issues. To aid them in this task the Department will publish guidance for PCTs on commissioning treatment for National Health Service patients overseas based on the experience of the three test-bed sites which are currently working up plans to send patients to mainland Europe. The Department will also develop through an open tendering process a list of approved providers/intemediaries whom PCTs may approach when considering sending patients overseas. Finally, officials are considering what role the Commission for Health Improvement might play in monitoring standards of foreign providers.
Primary care trusts will need to satisfy themselves through paper evidence, through clinicians visiting the relevant providers and through the contractual process that their patients will receive good clinical care. Although this process should be rigorous, it need not take many weeks. Our aim is that, if possible, the first patients travel to receive treatment in mainland Europe before the end of the year.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition he uses for an unreasonable period of delay for treatment within the NHS, as phrased in the European Court of Justice ruling on treatment of patients abroad. [11041]
895W
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 1 November 2001]: The European Court of Justice did not define what was meant by "undue delay", by implication leaving that a matter for determination by each member state. In England, if an application for treatment elsewhere in the European Union under the E112 scheme was made on grounds of delay, the Department would take account of the national targets for waiting times as published in the NHS Plan and of the individual patient's clinical need.