§ 24. Mr. TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for encouraging co-operation between NHS hospitals. [62467]
§ Mr. MilburnIn the White PaperThe new NHS we set out our plans to replace the internal market with a system based on partnership and driven by performance. National Health Service trusts, other NHS organisations and local authorities are already working more closely together to improve health and healthcare.
§ 28. Laura MoffattTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for encouraging management co-operation between NHS hospitals in order to reduce administration costs. [62471]
§ Mr. MilburnThe new NHS White Paper set out our plans to abolish the internal market and shift the focus from competition to co-operation across the National Health Service. NHS trusts, working with health authorities and Primary Care Groups, are being encouraged to share support functions to eliminate duplication and free up extra resources for direct patient care. This will ensure we focus NHS management effort on improving health and health care, by cutting unnecessary bureaucracy.