§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to draw up a list of approved hospital providers in the EU. [16851]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department will begin a tender exercise to establish a list of approved providers in the new year, drawing on the experience of the three test-bed sites in the south-east of England which are currently working to send national health service patients overseas. This tender exercise will of necessity take several months.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Commission for Health Improvement will assist him in drawing up a list of approved hospital providers in the EU. [16854]
§ Mr. HuttonWe are considering how the Commission for Health Improvement could best assist in this process.
The commission's involvement will be planned within the context of the commission's overall priorities in relation to helping to improve the quality of care to all national health service patients.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health with which hospital providers he has(a) had meetings and (b) corresponded in (i) Austria, (ii) Belgium, (iii) France, (iv) Greece, (v) the Netherlands, (vi) Germany, (vii) Portugal, (viii) Spain and (ix) Norway. [16850]
§ Mr. HuttonOfficials and members of the three test-bed sites working to send national health service patients overseas have had meetings with several providers based in Germany and a provider based in Greece.
In addition, officials have corresponded with a large number of hospital providers. Details will be placed in the Library shortly.