§ 14. Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether cottage hospitals, either separately or collectively, will be permitted to opt for National Health Servize hospital trust status under his proposals outlined in the recent White Paper, "Working for Patients".
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt is the Government's intention that any hospital or group of hospitals which meets the criteria set out in the White Paper will be eligible to apply for National Health Service hospital trust status. Each application will, of course, need to be carefully considered on its merits.