§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations are included on the Department's list of possible franchisees for the management of failing hospitals; and which organisations have been awarded franchises for running failing hospitals. [129746]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 15 September 2003]: The National Health Service Franchising Register of Expertise was published in December 2002. All current three star NHS organisations are on the register along with Trent strategic health authority and eight private sector organisations who are:
BMI Healthcare, BUPA Hospitals Ltd., Capio Healthcare UK Ltd., Hospitalia activHealth gmbh, Interhealth Canada Ltd., Quo Health, Secta Group Ltd. and Serco Health.Prior 10 December 2002, six NHS trusts were franchised as a result of their performance in 2000–01, and recruited new chief executives who were already working in the NHS.
Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust was given a zero star rating for their performance in 2001–02. Following a rigorous competitive tender, Secta won the franchise to run the trust. The new chief executive started on 1 September 2003.