§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what account is taken of the level of investment in private health care in the formula used to distribute resource allocations to health authorities. [20460]
§ Mr. HoramThe national weighted capitation formula determines health authorities' shares of available resources and its aim is for health authorities to be able to purchase similar levels of health services for resident populations in similar need. The formula does not take explicit account of levels of private medical insurance and therefore allocations are not directly affected.
The national health service is available to all, regardless of ability to pay, and people with private medical insurance always have the option to use the NHS.