§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what objective assessment of the operation of the internal market in health in any particular locality is undertaken on her behalf. [16352]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe main way in which the operation of the internal market is assessed is through the monitoring of the performance of trusts and district health authorities against targets and objectives which are set to ensure the national health service delivers good-quality, responsive services in an efficient manner.
These include: performance against the patients charter standards which have recently been expanded; position on waiting times; extent of efficiency gains measured through the efficiency index; and progress towards achievement of "The Health of the Nation" targets. These are available at a district level.