§ Dr. Richard TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress primary care trusts in England are making with preparations for the commissioning of specialised services, with particular reference to those for(a) genitourinary medicine and (b) haemophilia. [87725]
§ Ms BlearsSince April 2002 primary care trusts have been responsible for securing health services for their local populations, including the commissioning of specialised services. Regional specialised commissioning groups, whose former health authority members have now been replaced by PCT members, are continuing to exist during 2002–03, to ensure stability and continuity, as are existing consortia arrangements including previously agreed financial commitments and programmes of service reviews.
Responses to the ministerial review on specialised services are now being considered and guidance will be issued shortly on commissioning arrangements for 2003–04 onwards. Haemophilia and HIV treatment and care services will be covered by these arrangements. Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) services are not covered by regional specialist commissioning groups as they are not specialised services. However we have recently issued a Sexual Health and HIV Commissioning Toolkit to support those commissioning and providing sexual health and HIV services including GUM.