§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to ensure that people are receiving high quality, safe services from private providers of out-of-hours primary care services; and if he will make a statement. [184103]
§ Mr. HuttonIn England, all organised providers of out of hours services including private providers, must meet the national quality standards, which ensure that patients receive the highest quality care. Primary care trusts (PCTs) have a legal responsibility to provide an out-of-hours service for their patients, which meets the national quality Standards.
PCTs will monitor their providers in the delivery of their services in the management of their contracts, to ensure they meet the standards, and the strategic health authorities in turn will performance manage the PCTs in delivering these services.