§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made on the implications of the deficits of the(a) South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust and (b) Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust. [83517]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 26 November 2002]: Departmental officials in the Directorate of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Midlands and East of England and West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority (StHA) are working closely with both Worcestershire Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust and South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT) to minimise the deficit forecast for the end of the financial year 2002–03. The PCT is conducting a review of services to consider more efficient ways of provision in the acute, community and primary care sectors. As part of the normal monitoring process undertaken by the DHSC and StHA, the organisations are producing longer-term financial strategies within their service development plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06, as required by all health economies nationally.