§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what contacts at official level there have been between his Department and United Healthcare group over the past three years. [131345]
§ Dr. LadymanMinisters and officials have had a number of discussions and meetings with representatives of United Healthcare Group since summer 2002.
In November 2002, a framework agreement was signed between the Secretary of State for Health and United Healthcare Group. Under this agreement, United Healthcare Group carried out scoping work with ten primary care trusts (PCTs) to produce recommendations on how the `Evercare' model of care for the at-risk elderly could be implemented by those PCTs. As part of this work, two Departmental officials accompanied representatives from the communities covered by the ten PCTs on a study visit to United Healthcare Group's operations in Minnesota.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which private healthcare companies expressed interest in the pilots contracted to United Healthcare at competitive tender stage. [131346]
§ Dr. LadymanThe services provided by United Healthcare Group under the framework agreement with the Secretary of State for Health and under the contracts with 10 individual primary care trusts fall into the category of administrative healthcare services and are not subject to a competitive tendering process under European or domestic procurement law.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's contract with United Healthcare and the Evercare pilots. [131347]
§ Dr. LadymanA framework agreement was signed between the Secretary of State for Health and United Healthcare Group in November 2002. This covered initial scoping work—completed in February 2003—and provided for call-off contracts between United Healthcare Group and individual primary care trusts (PCTs).
Nine PCTs have entered into contracts with United Healthcare Group for support services to help them to implement the `Evercare' model of care for the at-risk elderly. One PCT has entered into a contract for support services to help them predict demand for health care and to plan services and workforce accordingly.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the areas piloting the United Healthcare Evercare programme; and if he will list for each pilot the percentage change in bed occupancy achieved by the programme. [131348]
1343W
§ Dr. LadymanThe following primary care trusts are implementing the 'Evercare' model of care for the at-risk elderly: Airedale; Bexley; Bristol North; Bristol South and West; Halton; Luton; South Gloucestershire; Walsall; and Wandsworth.
Implementation began in April 2003 and runs to October 2004. The early stages have involved recruiting general practitioner practices and nurses, identifying the at-risk population and training the nurses. Evaluation and monitoring, including bed occupancy rates, is built into the contracts and will be available at a later stage.