§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of re-configuring the structure of the NHS in East Lancashire; and if he will make a statement. [27148]
§ Mr. HuttonI apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.
A number of simultaneous reconfigurations are taking place, both across and beyond East Lancashire. The cost of these reconfigurations will be met from within NHS allocations and is intended to result in a higher share of resources reaching frontline patient care.