§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for how many patients NHS trusts have funded treatment in the private sector in each month of the last three years; and what was the total amount spent in each case. [124131]
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§ Ms StuartThe total amount of National Health Service funds spent on the provision of hospital and community services for NHS patients treated outside the NHS (in the independent sector comprising of for profit hospitals, not for profit hospitals, voluntary hospitals/hospices and independent clinics) for the last three years are as follows:
Percentages are of NHS expenditure on hospital and community services Billion Percentage 1998–99 1.25 4.8 1997–98 1.08 4.6 1996–97 0.87 3.8 Information on patient activity and annual expenditure in the independent sector, comprising of for profit hospitals, not for profit hospitals, voluntary hospitals/hospices and independent clinics for the last three years available has been placed in the Library.