§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 6 October 2003,Official Report, columns 343–44W, on health care providers, if he will list foreign-owned private health care providers who provide services to the NHS whose names are held centrally. [134498]
§ Mr. HuttonUnited Healthcare is providing administrative health services to 10 primary care trusts (PCTs). Kaiser Permanente is engaged with eight PCTs as part of a non-contractual mutual learning arrangement.
Both these arrangements involve the provision of support around redesigning health services rather than the direct provision of health services.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors led to the initiation of the recent discussions between his Department and United Healthcare; who took the initiative in setting up the discussions; and by what means his Department is accountable to Parliament for the contract with United Healthcare. [134499]
§ Mr. HuttonIn Delivering the NHS Plan, published in April 2002, the Government set out its intention for the national health service to work with international organisations to develop and test models of integrated health care.
In August 2002 my right hon. Friend, the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) asked Departmental officials to enter into discussions to explore the potential for and feasibility of adapting and applying United Healthcare's Evercare model in a number of primary care trusts (PCTs).
The framework agreement between the Secretary of State and the United Healthcare provided for United Healthcare to undertake scoping work with ten PCTs. Under this agreement, individual PCTs that wished to take the work further then contracted with United Healthcare for administrative healthcare services.
Funding from a Vote 1 central budget has been transferred to each PCT as a contribution to the overall cost of the pilot. The accounting officer for the Department (the chief executive) is responsible to Parliament for the expenditure of the Vote.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign-owned private health care providers are providing services to the Transformational Change Programme managed by the National Primary and Care Trust Development Programme. [134500]
134W
§ Mr. HuttonTwo foreign-owned private healthcare providers are providing support to primary care trusts through the national primary and care trust development programme's transformational change programme.
Nine primary care trusts (PCTs) have contracted with United Healthcare Group for assistance in redesigning services for vulnerable elderly people. One has contracted for support in predicting demand for health services.
Eight PCTs are also participating in a non-contractual mutual learning arrangement with Kaiser Permanente as part of the transformational change programme.