§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how the role of foundation hospital trusts will affect the role of primary care trusts as commissioning bodies. [117331]
§ Mr. HuttonIn their role as commissioners, primary care trusts will continue to take the lead in needs assessment and specifying service requirements, with national health service foundation trusts developing and providing services in partnership with other providers in the local health and social care community.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which trusts were rejected in the recent assessment of those eligible to proceed with an application for foundation status. [116877]
§ Mr. HuttonThree national health service trusts were not shortlisted. These are East Cheshire, Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases and Frimley Park. In each case the trusts have decided to defer establishing as NHS foundation trusts until October 2004 in order to be better placed to make a success of the new freedoms.