HC Deb 29 January 2003 vol 398 cc893-4W
Dr. Richard Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the private companies on the Government's register of expertise for tendering to run NHS hospitals have experience in managing emergency services; and what safeguards are in place to prevent these firms recruiting the best managers from the NHS. [93251]

Mr. Lammy

The independent panel set up by the National Health Service Appointments Commission assessed the general ability of each private sector organisation to run a hospital trust. The expertise and experience of every organisation which tenders for a NHS franchise will be thoroughly and rigorously assessed before any contract is awarded. The Government's aim is for the best managers from either the public or private sectors to be put into franchised hospitals to help turn around their performance.