§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is his estimate of the total extra costs incurred in enforcing standards in the patients charter expressed separately;
(2) what extra money he intends to provide specifically for meeting target standards under the patients charter;
276W(3) what assessment he has made of the manpower implications of the patients charter for (a) the ambulance services arising from requirements for response times, (b) accident and emergency departments arising from waiting time limits for initial assessment requirements, (c) out-patient departments arising from waiting time requirements, (d) operating theatres arising from cancellations of operations requirements and (e) on staffing arising from the naming of health service personnel as responsible for individual patients.
§ Mr. DorrellThe patients charter defines acceptable standards for existing services. Each standard is currently being met, within existing resources, by some health authorities. Enforcement of charter standards will help to generalise this good management practice throughout the National Health Service.