§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors will be needed to staff the new diagnostic and treatment centres. [127328]
§ Mr. HuttonThe number of doctors needed to staff National Health Service-run diagnosis and treatment centres (DTCs) is a matter for the NHS trust managing the unit, working with their local workforce development confederations to ensure the best use of staff in the local health economy.
The number of doctors working in new independent sector run DTCs will be determined during the contract agreement process with preferred bidders. The 180W procurement documentation sent to short-listed bidders asked them demonstrate that their workforce strategy would not be disruptive to the local health economy. and to indicate the numbers of additional clinical staff and NHS staff, working in an agreed and structured way, that will work in these new units.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which procedures are expected to be carried out in diagnostic and treatment centres. [127329]
§ Mr. HuttonDiagnosis and treatment centres are expected to provide booked diagnosis and treatment, on a day case or short inpatient stay basis, in high volume "routine" specialities such as orthopaedics, ophthalmology and general surgery.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government will use a standard tariff for treatments carried out at diagnostic and treatment centres. [127365]
§ Mr. HuttonFrom this year, the Government has introduced a new financial system to provide a transparent, rules-based system for paying providers of services to National Health Service patients. Primary care trusts will commission the volume of activity required to deliver service priorities, adjusted for case-mix, from a plurality of providers on the basis of a standard national price tariff. These arrangements apply equally to NHS trusts and NHS—diagnosis and treatment centres.