§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of spare capacity in the private health sector; and if he will provide a breakdown by region. [11116]
§ Mr. HuttonThe major United Kingdom providers of private health care have indicated that they have spare capacity available for treating national health service patients which could increase the amount of NHS-funded work within the private sector to approximately 100,000 cases per annum.
The capacity available in the private sector varies over time and by specialty. It is for NHS commissioning organisations to investigate capacity available in the independent sector as part of planning elective capacity.
To help the NHS to find out about available capacity in the independent sector, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has established a secure website where independent health care providers are able to post offers of treatment for NHS patients, by hospital and clinical specialty.
§ Derek TwiggTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures he has collated on the number of(a) doctors and (b) nurses employed by the private health sector. [23894]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department does not collect data about the number of doctors working in the private sector.
Between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000 a total of 70,897 permanent and temporary qualified nursing staff were employed in private nursing homes and residential care homes. The Department does not collect information covering the number of nurses working in private hospitals and the voluntary sector.