§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the 2002–03 budget was(a) finalised and (b) published for the (i) Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and (ii) Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust; and if he will make a statement; [76504]
(2) what plans he has to bring an end to the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS trust deficit; and if he will make a statement. [76497]
§ Ms BlearsThe management of the trust is a matter for the local health community managing within the context of "Shifting the Balance of Power", local partnership and agreement. Work is under way across the whole health economy to identify recurrent solutions to address the deficit.
I am advised by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority that the Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust board approved initial budgets for 2002–03 at its meeting on 25 April 2002. There were a number of areas of service development that required additional investment, which have been agreed in the last two months. In the case of Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust, the outline budget was presented to its board at a public meeting in June.
The public release of details of the proposed budget and the subsequent publication of audited accounts are matters for each individual organisation to determine.