§ 31. Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received regarding the operation of the out-of-area treatment scheme. [106268]
§ Mr. DenhamExtra Contractual Referrals (ECRs) were part of the unfair "two tier" internal market, and were abolished on 31 March 1999. They have been replaced by new arrangements for commissioning services—long term service agreements, specialised service agreements and out-of-area treatments.
Following the introduction of the new commissioning arrangements on 1 April 1999, the National Health Service Executive has received a small number of representations regarding the out-of-area treatment scheme. We are, of course, keeping the arrangements under review.
§ 35. Mr. LeighTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the target time set by his Department within which a trust should receive payment for treatments given under the out-of-area treatment scheme. [106272]
§ Mr. DenhamUnder the Out-of-area treatment (OAT) arrangements, each National Health Service trust has a main commissioner. The main commissioner health authority is funded for OATs through an annual non-recurrent adjustment to allocations. NHS trusts should be paid by their main commissioners in line with the profile agreed locally.