Health Authorities (Hansard, 19 July 1994)

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with local purchasing health authorities regarding the performance of hospital trusts; and if she will specify the authorities concerned and the content of the discussion.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
As part of their performance management responsibilities, regional offices of the national health service executive discuss with purchasers factors which affect local purchasing decisions, including changing patterns of service provision. These, in turn, will be affected by the performance of individual trusts.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements have been made to improve transmission information between trusts and national health authorities in order that they may make the purchase of patient care more accurate.

§ Mr. Sackville
The national health service executive, in partnership with the national health service, is working, 219W through a national information management and technology strategy, to create an environment to improve the quality and sustain the effective sharing of information across the health service.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he ensures that health authorities are producing appropriate levels of health care.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
The regional offices of the national health service executive assess progress in key areas of the work of the NHS.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of health authorities moving funds between different budget heads on health care and the provision of social services.

§ Mr. Bowis
None.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will redistribute funds from fundholding general practitioners who have underspent to those who have overspent.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
No.