§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have contracts with Norwich Union to provide healthcare premises; and what advice his Department has given to trusts on the marketing of private healthcare and health insurance products within such premises. [10018]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 29 October 2001]: The Department does not hold information on the number of national health service trusts with contracts with Norwich Union to provide healthcare premises.
The overwhelming majority of elective operations carried out in NHS trusts are performed on NHS patients. Although NHS trusts are permitted to generate income from providing facilities and staff to operate on private health policy-holders and self-pay patients, trusts must ensure that this private activity is not at the expense of their NHS work.