§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy in respect of marketing testing or selling national health service computer centres; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleA number of regional computer centres serving the national health service have been sold off or contracted out for a number of years. Others, which remain in-house, have been reviewing their options in the light of the planned abolition of the parent regional health authorities in 1996. The aim is to secure best long-term value for money for the NHS and to maximise the use of existing management and financial resources on the core statutory function of improved health care. Options, which are for local determination, include;
Closure without replacementMarket testing to identify a new supplier or suppliersTransfer to another owner within the NHS at manageable riskSale by competition to an owner outside the NHS (which might include a bid from a Management buy-out)Guidelines to assist health authorities and trusts in their consideration of future arrangements for NHS trading agencies generally will be issued shortly.