HC Deb 10 July 1997 vol 297 c529W
Mr. Jim Murphy

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what performance targets have been set for the Defence Secondary Care Agency for 1997–98. [8563]

Dr. Reid

Key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency for financial year 1997–98. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in April 1996 and are as follows:

  1. (a) From within available personnel resources, to meet 100 per cent. of the Services' requirements for secondary care skill mix in support operations.
  2. (b) To ensure that 50 per cent. of Service patients are offered a first outpatient appointment within 4 weeks of receipt of a referral, and 90 per cent. within 13 weeks.
  3. (c) To ensure that 75 per cent. of Service patients are offered a treatment date that is within three months of the decision to give inpatient treatment.
  4. (d) To reduce average DSCA Finished Consultant Episodes (FCE) costs by 3 per cent. over the course of the year.
  5. (e) By 31 March 1998, to develop and implement a co-ordinated quality strategy for patient care and a mechanism for assessing performance against the strategy.
  6. (f) To ensure that 80 per cent. of all DSCA Service personnel, whose medical category permits it, receive the annual military training which is mandatory within their Service.
  7. (g) To ensure that 80 per cent. of places on all exercises covered by relevant Service Legal Agreements with Commanders in Chief are filled by DSCA staff within the appropriate specialities.