§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bids by each local health trust were(a) received and (b) successful in each of the competitive bidding processes launched and managed by his Department since May 1997. [82461]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 28 April 1999]: National Health Service trusts were asked to submit bids for two elements of the capital modernisation fund direct to the Department. Details of the numbers of bids to the waiting lists modernisation fund and accident and
133Wemergency modernisation fund are contained in the table. NHS trusts are also benefiting from a wide range of bidding exercises, handled through health authorities and
Waiting lists modernisation fund Accident and emergency modernisation fund Regional Office Number of bids submitted to ROs Number of bids approved by Ministers Number of bids submitted to ROs Number of bids approved by Ministers Northern and 86 18 34 15 Trent 56 19 31 6 Eastern1 19 21 12 7 London 109 33 44 9 South East 28 28 16 9 South West 19 19 18 7 West Midlands 2 2 21 7 North West 145 25 42 10 Total 464 165 218 70 1 Having reviewed the criteria, Eastern Regional decided to focus on schemes that would deliver extra capacity. It was expected that the equipment would be bought via an increase in allocations to all waiting lists trusts, hence the increase from 19 bids to 21 approved schemes. Note:
East Regional Office had flexibility to decide how to manage the bidding process within its region. There were differences in the way ROs invited and assessed bids.