§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much has been spent on financial arrangements to encourage NHS trusts to achieve waiting time targets set by the Defence Secondary Care Agency in each year since the arrangements have been in place; [18240]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 21 November 2001, Official Report, column 293W, what financial arrangements exist to encourage NHS trusts to achieve waiting time targets set by the Defence Secondary Care Agency. [18239]
§ Dr. MoonieThe financial arrangements with Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) Trusts referred to in my answer to the hon. Member of 21 November 2001,Official Report, column 293W, are based on provisions set out in Health Service Circular 1999/112, dated 21 May 1999. They provide financial incentives for the individual 360W trusts to achieve waiting time targets set by the Defence Secondary Care Agency (DSCA), in the form of two stages of premium, set at a percentage of the basic tariff. The first stage premium is payable so long as there is clear evidence that the trust is attempting to achieve the targets. The second, small premium, is payable on a specialty by specialty basis, separately as regards the targets for out-patient attendance and in-patient admissions, and is dependant on the full achievement of the target.
In the two years since these arrangements have been in place, the total expenditure on the premiums has been £1.230 million in 1999–2000 and £1.242 million in 2000–01.