§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has given to health authorities over the past 12 months regarding the efficient use of resources.
§ Mrs. CurrieMinisters and the National Health Service Management Board are committed to ensuring that health authorities continue to improve the efficiency with which they manage and provide services so as to maximise the resources available for patient care. This objective has most recently been reinforced in the 1989–90 planning guidelines (Circular HC(88) 43), which was issued to authorities on 19 July. A copy has been placed in the Library.
The guidelines highlight a number of ways in which health authorities could seek to improve their use of resources. The provision of advice is, however, a continuous process, and more detailed information has been given to authorities through the year on areas of particular potential for improving efficiency, on ways of structuring value for money initiatives, and general good practice.