§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether foundation hospitals will provide services unavailable in normally-funded hospitals. [114005]
§ Mr. HuttonNational Health Service foundation trusts will be established with the principal purpose of providing NHS services to NHS patients. Services in NHS foundation trusts will, as now, be commissioned by primary care trusts.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals he estimates will have Foundation Status by April 2004. [114869]
§ Mr. HuttonSubject to legislation, the first wave of national health service foundation trusts will be established in April 2004. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced in his written statement on 14 May 2003,Official Report, columns 9–10WS, 29 NHS trusts are entering the preparatory stage for NHS foundation trust status. Each application for NHS foundation trust status will need the support of the Secretary of State. The applications will be submitted by autumn 2003.