§ Mr. ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the cash releasing efficiency savings procedure within the NHS. [11951]
§ Mr. HuttonAs set out in the NHS Plan we have introduced a new approach to setting efficiency targets for the National Health Service. In the past efficiency targets were imposed on the NHS without an analysis of what is realistic.
288WThe new approach to efficiency targets does not permit a trade off between cost and quality. The cost of providing care in trusts providing a high quality service is the benchmark for the whole of the NHS with all trusts expected to reach this level within five years.