§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what timetable has been agreed for the establishment of service agreements for financing referrals for specialist neurology treatments; [116464]
612W(2) what funding mechanisms are available to cover referrals of patients for specialist treatments not as yet included in service agreements. [116463]
§ Mr. DenhamSpecialist treatments offered by National Health Service trusts to populations within their host regions are in most cases already incorporated in service agreements. Regional directors have been asked to ensure that service agreements are reached during 2000–01 for any pan regional specialist treatments, including some specialist neurology treatments, that are not yet covered by a service agreement.
Any specialist treatment not yet included in a service agreement will be covered by the out of area treatments mechanism.