§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to establish which overseas healthcare providers can provide high standards of care and good value for money in treating NHS patients. [25347]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department plans a competitive tendering process which will require overseas providers who wish to provide hospital services to the national health service to demonstrate that they can provide a high quality service at competitive prices. Decisions about the appropriate providers will take into account both paper evidence and visits by managers and clinicians: these service requirements will be underpinned by robust contractual arrangements.
The tender process will draw on the experience of the three test bed sites who are piloting processes for sending NHS patients abroad for treatment.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from private sector health organisations against(a) the Government sending patients abroad for NHS funded treatment and (b) allowing healthcare companies or staff from abroad to operate in NHS hospitals. [25519]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 9 January 2002]: We have not received any such representations from private sector health organisations.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the first NHS patients to go abroad for treatment, funded by the NHS. [25518]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 9 January 2002]: The test bed sites in south-east England who are piloting processes for sending national health service patients overseas for treatment are in contractual negotiations 75W with several overseas providers. Subject to satisfactory resolution of those negotiations we expect the first NHS-funded patients to travel abroad for treatment before the end of January.