§ Dr. Richard TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to ensure that expenditure on elective surgery on NHS patients in the private sector is minimised, and the use of NHS services is optimised. [91502]
§ Mr. HuttonHealth Service Circular 2000/007, "Securing Service Delivery: Commissioning Freedoms of Primary Care Trusts", issued in April 2002, made clear that primary care trusts should feel free to commission care from wherever they can obtain the best126W services for patients. Commissioning decisions should be judged against the twin tests of high clinical standards and good value for money.