HL Deb 15 January 2002 vol 630 cc149-50WA
Baroness Noakes

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In relation to their patient choice proposals published on 6 December:

  1. (a) whether the cost of a patient being treated other than at the hospital on whose waiting list the patient appears will be met by that hospital;
  2. (b) who will pay for travel and support costs for patients and their families;
  3. (c) who will employ and pay for patient care advisers; and
  4. (d) how patient choice trustees will operate and be appointed. [HL2021]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Detailed implementation plans for the proposals set out in the discussion documentExtending Choice for Patients will be worked up in discussion with patient representatives, National Health Service clinicians and managers and partner organisations.

Under the funding arrangements set out in the section of the document on heart surgery, it is proposed that funding should flow from NHS commissioners to their local cardiac centres, which will either undertake operations themselves or arrange for patients who have waited longer than six months to be treated elsewhere, if the patients so choose. Funding will transfer to those hospitals which do the extra activity.

Arrangements for travel and support for patients and their families will be considered in more depth with patient representatives and others; this will include reviewing travel cost arrangements to ensure that patients who exercise choice do not lose out.

The detail of the arrangements for cardiac patient care advisers and patient choice trustees will be explored further early in the new year.

A copy of the discussion paper has been placed in the Library.