§ Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total saving accrued since 1 May as a result of changes to administrative practices in the health service in(a) primary care, (b) secondary care and (c)the HSS Executive. [35696]
§ Mr. WorthingtonThe information requested is not available.
In accordance with the Government's commitment to reduce bureaucracy and abolish the internal market, guidance was issued by the HSS Executive to all HSS bodies, setting out immediate changes to be made to internal market arrangements to streamline cashflows and redirect resources to patient care. Although there are a number of examples of good practice which have been implemented throughout the HPSS, in compliance with this guidance, it is not possible at this time to quantify the level of savings resulting specifically from these changes.
However, savings of £2 million per annum resulting from a reduction in management costs from 1997–98 will amount to £10 million over the lifetime of this parliament and officials are currently considering further reductions in management cost.
The forthcoming consultation document on the future organisation of the HPSS, which is due to issue shortly, sets out proposals for the abolition of the internal market which will redirect additional resources, saved by abolishing wasteful management structures, towards patient care.