§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients treated under the concordat with the private sector are at state retirement age. [10489]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 30 October 2001]: The Department does not collect information on National Health Service funded cases in the private sector in the form requested. In 1999–2000 36 per cent. of finished consultant episodes in NHS trusts in England involved people over the state pension age (65 for men, 60 for women); however it is not necessarily the case that the same proportion will apply to patients treated under the concordat.
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessments he has made of future activity levels under the concordat with the private sector. [10491]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 30 October 2001]: Latest figures show there have been in the region of 60,000 National Health Service funded cases in the private sector since the concordat between the NHS and the independent sector was signed in October last year. Officials are in discussion with private sector providers 828W with a view to developing a national framework agreement to build longer-term relationships between the NHS and the private sector. The aim of this agreement would be to double the number of elective procedures carried out in the private sector on the NHS's behalf. On that basis we believe that next year NHS-funded elective activity in the private sector should exceed 100,000 cases.