§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 9 June 2003,Official Report, column 692W, on overseas treatment, how many further operations have been carried out abroad under the NHS overseas treatment scheme; whether he is now in possession of information on the clinical outcomes of these operations; and what proportion of them resulted in medical complications. [136944]
§ Mr. HuttonSince 9 June 2003, no patients have been treated in France as part of the overseas treatment programme. The total number of patients treated in France is 275. The total number of patients treated abroad, including the pilot project, is 588.
The Department does not routinely collect information about the post-operative complication rates arising after surgery for patients treated abroad.
National health service organisations may collect and analyse this kind of information, among other indicators of quality, as part of their local clinical governance arrangements designed to assure and continuously improve the quality of care for all NHS patients. The NHS is responsible for ensuring that NHS patients receive high clinical standards of care wherever they are treated. From November 2003, where orthopaedic patients are treated abroad, there is support and agreement to register these patients on the United Kingdom National Joint Registry.
869WEast Kent Hospitals NHS Trust local audit committee, commissioned by the overseas commissioners, is undertaking a comparative audit of outcomes against patients treated by local consultants. When completed, East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust will hold this information.