HC Deb 17 October 2002 vol 390 cc941-2W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether borrowing by NHS foundation trusts will be backed up by Treasury guarantees. [74550]

Mr. Hutton

Details of the financial regime for National Health Service foundation trusts are currently being developed.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS foundation trusts will have other income streams in addition to standard NHS funding from the Treasury. [74551]

Mr. Hutton

National Health Service foundation trusts may have limited access to other income streams, in a similar way to existing NHS trusts, in addition to standard NHS funding from Her Majesty's Treasury. Their prime purpose will be to treat NHS patients.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS foundation trusts will be able to develop services for private patients in addition to existing pay beds in their particular hospitals or clinics. [74552]

Mr. Hutton

Provision of clinical services to National Health Service patients will remain the principal objective for NHS foundation trusts. However, as is the case for existing NHS trusts, the new organisations will be able to treat private patients including foreign nationals who may live in the United Kingdom but are not eligible for NHS treatment.

The governance and regulatory framework that we are developing for NHS foundation trusts will ensure that appropriate controls are put in place to prevent these organisations from developing private business at the expense of developing services for NHS patients.