§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's current policy on the concentration of individual medical and surgical services, other than cancer services, at fewer hospitals. [29744]
§ Mr. HoramEach individual case will be considered on its merits balancing the loss of choice, access, competition and responsiveness that may follow concentration against any gains in quality of patient care or economies of scale where these cannot otherwise be achieved.
The Department has issued guidance, HSG (94)55, on the subject "The Operation of the NHS Internal Market: Local Freedoms, National Responsibilities", copies of which are available in the Library. We have also commissioned a short study into concentration and choice in acute services from a team led by Trevor Sheldon of the centre for reviews and dissemination in York.