§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that primary care groups in Norfolk are not disadvantaged by the development of the new PFI hospital in Norwich. [151764]
§ Mr. DenhamThe decision to proceed with the private initiative scheme was a health economy decision that all relevant health organisations were involved in.
Although primary care groups had not been established when the first business case for the new Norfolk and Norwich hospital was agreed, they subsequently ratified their support for the new hospital by approving the supplementary business case for 144 extra beds, and its financial consequences.
The National Health Service Executive is providing smoothing and transitional support for the higher initial costs of the new hospital. This is in accordance with the undertakings given at the time of approval to ensure other local services would not suffer.