HL Deb 25 February 2002 vol 631 cc191-2WA
Baroness Barker

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they plan to issue new and revised guidance on non-emergency patient transport, to replace that issued in 1991; and what such guidance will include. [HL2720]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Provision of non-emergency patient transport is a matter for commissioners to meet local needs. The national guidance produced in 1991 is currently being reviewed.

Baroness Barker

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What guidance they will issue in respect of pooled budgets (as provided for in Section 31 of the Health Act 1999) for commissioning effective local transport services for different kinds of health and social care need. [HL2723]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Health service circular 2000/010 and local authority circular (2000)9 (issued on 27 March 2000) provided information about use of partnership arrangements under Section 31 of the Health Act 1999. These circulars detailed how services could be improved through pooled funds and the delegation of functions, including the lead commissioning of local transport services for different kinds of health and social care need.

Baroness Barker

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the responsibilities of primary care trusts for commissioning non-emergency patient transport, subject to legislation being passed to abolish health authorities. [HL2768]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Primary care trusts currently do not have responsibility for commissioning non-emergency patient transport and there are no provisions in the current National Health Service Reform and Healthcare Professions Bill to allow this. The Government will keep this under review.

Baroness Barker

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to include a transport standard as a measure of patient outcomes in the National Health Service Performance Assessment Framework. [HL2769]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Performance measures for ambulance trusts are currently under development. We plan to publish these in the summer, as part of the performance ratings for all National Health Service organisations.