§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what numbers of acute and intermediate beds he has agreed for the Newcastle Hospitals Trust PFI; what target date he has set for the replacement of the Northern Centre for Cancer Treatment; and when he plans to put the PFI into open advertisement for bids. [156469]
§ Mr. DenhamNo target numbers of beds have yet been agreed for the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Trust's Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme, as this is an aspect of the refinement of the outline business cases that is now being undertaken by the trust.
The scheme's business cases advocate the new Northern centre for cancer treatment being procured as one part of the overall PFI developments proposed at both the Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary. Subject to satisfactory progress being made in progressing the scheme, the new facilities at Freeman Hospital should be operational in 2005.
The date for placement of the advertisement will be dependent on the completion of the refinement of the outline business case.