§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if(a) terms and conditions of service of his Department's employees and (b) arrangements for priority treatment of service personnel are laid out in (1) legally binding contracts or (2) Service Level Agreements at his Department's hospital units at (i) Peterborough, (ii) Frimley Park and (iii) Derriford; and if he will make a statement. [88422]
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§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 28 June 1999]Revised Customer Supplier Agreements (CSA) are being introduced to replace the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) existing with the host NHS Trusts for our Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) at Derriford, Peterborough and Frimley Park. The new financial model underpinning the CSAs is explained in Health Services Circular 1999/112 and is also being used for the CSA at our new MDHU at Northallerton. The agreements will not include details of the terms and conditions of service for military personnel. However, provision will exist in the agreements for the release of military personnel for operations, exercises and training. The agreements also include a commitment to the achievement of DSCA Key Targets 2 and 3, as set out on 20 May 1999,Official Report, column 436, and to the operational priority treatment of patients referred under specific criteria.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the contracts or Service Level Agreements governing relations between the relevant NHS trusts and his Department's hospital units at(a) Peterborough, (b) Frimley Park and (c) Derriford. [88424]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 28 June 1999]Following detailed discussions with the NHS during 1997 and 1998, the principles of a new Service Level Agreement (SLA) have been developed to form a revised contract from 1999–2000 at the three existing Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) at Peterborough, Frimley Park and Derriford and at the new MDHU Northallerton. This model will also form the basis of all future MOD contracts relationships with the NHS for hosting staff or providing treatment. The new contract model which has been agreed with all partner NHS Trusts in principle, was published in a Health Circular 1999/112 dated 21 May 1999 and will form the basis of the agreements which will replace the existing SLAs. It is expected that the contracts between MOD and individual NHS Trusts will be signed shortly after minor financial negotiations have been completed. These contracts embody commercial arrangements between each Trust and the MOD negotiated on an individual basis and so I am withholding them under exemption of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Effective Management and Operations of the public service). However, a copy of Health Circular 1999/112 dated 21 May 1999 has been placed in the Library of the House.