§ Baroness Noakesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which National Health Service bodies will enter into contracts with non-United Kingdom organisations to carry out operations on National Health Service patients in England; and, if any of those National Health Service bodies are strategic health authorities, how that will affect the commissioning responsibilities of primary care trusts. [HL5187]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathDecisions on which National Health Service bodies will enter into these contracts are likely to depend on the exact nature of the contracts proposed. As the prospectusGrowing Capacity, a new role for external healthcare providers in England notes, NHS commissioners will have a key role—working with the Department of Health—in defining their requirements from international establishment initiatives.