§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health who will determine whether a patient in West Yorkshire needing an eye operation is eligible to choose an alternative hospital. [99106]
§ Mr. HuttonApproval has recently been given by the Department of Health to the establishment of a national health service based Choice pilot scheme. This is to be based at Westwood Park Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (DTC), Bradford, and will be managed by Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust to deliver day surgery cataract extraction. When fully up and running in April 2004, the pilot proposes that the NHS will offer all patients registered with a general practitioner in West Yorkshire the choice of either referral directly to Westwood Park DTC or to attend for treatment at their local hospital.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources he has made available to NHS trusts in London to implement the London pilot scheme extending choice for patients. [97378]
§ Mr. HuttonThe approved funding for the London Patient Choice Pilot project during the financial year 2002–03 is £75 million.