§ Mr. Ivan HendersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) general and (b) community hospitals (i) have been built and (ii) are scheduled to be built under PFI contracts since 1997. [122628]
§ Mr. HuttonThe NHS Plan committed us to opening over 100 new hospital schemes in total between 2000 and 2010. Currently, there are 114 hospital schemes counting towards the 100 target, of which 104 will be built under the Private Finance Initiative. Of the 104, 32 are now operational, of which 31 are general and one community. A further 17 are under construction, of which 13 are general and four community. Within the 104, there are another five planned community hospitals.
The NHS Plan also set out plans for the modernisation of primary healthcare. 42 national health service local investment finance trust sites are being developed, which will bring in over £1 billion of investment. Much of this investment will provide community hospital services, for example, day case surgery, diagnostic services, oncology and physiotherapy.