HC Deb 23 January 1990 vol 165 c654W
16. Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest figure for the number of hospitals, health districts and specialist units which have expressed an interest in becoming a self-governing National Health Service trust.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

A total of 190 units have expressed interest in National Health Service trust status, including a number with more than one hospital. Twelve expressions of interest cover all the facilities within the relevant districts, and 19 are single specialty units. Eighty of these units are considering the preparation of applications for the first wave, which we would expect to be established in April 1991. However, applications will not be invited until Parliament has approved the necessary legislation.

38. Mrs. Rosie Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision his Department has made for ambulance services within district health authorities to become self-governing trusts; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Government regard all hospitals and a number of other services, including ambulance services, as potentially eligible to apply for National Health Service trust status when Parliament has approved the necessary legislation. A number of ambulance services currently provided by health authorities have already expressed an interest in becoming National Health Service trusts.

21. Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the core services which self-governing hospitals must provide.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Core or "designated services" are simply those which can be provided only in a particular locality by a particular hospital which has become an NHS trust and to which district health authorities and GPs have no reasonable accessible alternative. This will vary in the light of local circumstances and the services available in each district. There is no basis upon which a national list could be compiled at this stage of all those local situations which will give rise to some services in some places being described as "designated services" when the first NHS trusts are established.