§ Lord Brightmanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 13 December (WA 232), whether there exist any source or sources responsible to the Department of Health which can, if so required by the department, state how many beds in private hospitals in the London area were occupied by National Health Service patients on a specified date in 2001. [HL2292]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Department of Health does not have access to data about the number of beds in private hospitals occupied by National Health Service patients.
Since November 2000, the Independent Healthcare Association has collected monthly data from independent healthcare providers about the number of NHS patients treated by them. This covers outpatient appointments, day cases and inpatient treatment. A breakdown of the information will shortly be placed in the Library.
210WAThe department has recently surveyed health authorities and trusts on the amount of activity they are purchasing for NHS patients within the private sector and will make available key results in due course. The department is also currently reviewing its information needs as far as NHS-funded activity in the private sector is concerned.