§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been carried out under the NHS Concordat since November 2000. [47522]
§ Mr. HuttonSince November 2000 the Independent Healthcare Association (IHA) has collected monthly data from independent healthcare providers about the number of NHS patients treated by them. According to data made available to the Department by the IHA, between November 2000 and January 2002 (the latest month for which figures are available) at least 88,000 procedures were carried out in the independent sector in England, paid for by the NHS. This includes out-patient appointments, day cases and in-patient treatment.