§ 18. Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals or units expressed an interest in acquiring NHS trust status(a) for April 1991, (b) for April 1992 and (c) for April 1993; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyA total of 83 hospitals and units expressed an interest in becoming NHS trusts from 1991, 66 applied and 57 were established. In the following year 130 expressed interest, 110 applied and 103 were established. The current position for the third wave of applications is that 154 hospitals and units have expressed an interest in becoming NHS trusts from April 1993 and 151 have so far applied. This is more than in either of the first two waves. This shows that staff and managers in the NHS increasingly are seeing trusts as the best way to improve services for patients.
§ 27. Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications she has received for hospital trust status; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing), earlier today.
§ 28. Mr. GillTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in Shropshire towards practice budgets for doctors and trust status for hospitals.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThere are currently five GP fund holders in Shropshire serving 12.7 per cent. of the population. A further four practices have applied for fund-holding status from April 1993, and if successful, 23 per cent. of the population of Shropshire will then be served by GP fund holders.
We have received two formal applications for trust status from units in Shropshire: one from the Princess Royal hospital in Telford; and one from Shropshire mental health services. These applications are now out for formal public consultation.