HC Deb 10 April 2003 vol 403 c377W
Mr. Ruffley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost is(a) in a UK hospital and (b) in a German hospital which carries out procedures in agreement with the NHS, (i) including and (ii) excluding the cost of travel to and from the UK and (c) a French hospital (i) including and (ii) excluding the cost of travel to and from the UK of (A) a hip joint replacement, (B) a knee joint replacement and (C) a coronary artery by-pass graft. [105861]

Mr. Hutton

National health service national reference costs are provided on the Department of Health website. The average cost of a primary hip replacement is £4,356, the average cost of a primary knee replacement is £4,818, and the average cost of a coronary bypass is £6,275.

A procurement process identifying spare capacity abroad is currently active, so the costs of specific procedures abroad are commercially sensitive. However, prices are comparable to spot purchasing in the UK private sector.

Forward to