§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients have been sent abroad for treatment; and at what cost in the last five years. [127380]
§ Mr. HuttonA total of 477 patients have been referred for treatment abroad as part of the overseas treatment programme in the last five years.
A centrally funded pilot project took place between January and April 2002 at a cost of £1.1 million. This was extended for orthopaedic treatment overseas, with patients drawn from five different health authority areas at a cost of a further £2.1 million.
The option of receiving treatment abroad has also been offered as part of two patient choice pilot schemes.
232WThe London Patients Choice Project (LPCP) has spent a total of £148,766 on funding overseas treatment. This includes all programme costs, for treatment, travel, comprehensive rehabilitation, and out-patient clinics run in the United Kingdom by European clinicians.
The final costs for the cardiac programme are not available as yet. To date, 19 patients have been treated abroad.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how long the patients who have been sent abroad by the NHS for treatment had been waiting in their own locality. [127381]
§ Mr. HuttonThe details of the length of time that individual patients have been waiting before receiving treatment abroad is not held centrally. However, the option of going overseas is usually offered to patients who are clinically fit for travel and who have been waiting relatively long periods.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change the practice of sending patients abroad for treatment. [127382]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Government have made a commitment to developing greater diversity and plurality in healthcare provision in the future. This means that the national health service will be able to explore a range of options to help it deliver shorter waiting times and increase patient choice. These options include more effective use of the independent sector in the United Kingdom, innovative use of capacity in the NHS, and using NHS and independent sector diagnosis and treatment centres. The policy is that wherever possible the NHS should seek to attract overseas providers to the UK. However, where it makes sense in terms of value for money and convenience for patients, overseas treatment does offer a further means to add to the capacity of the NHS, to reduce waiting times and extend the choice available to patients.
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health where the financial liability lies for follow-up operations which take place in English NHS hospitals following a patient's NHS treatment abroad. [127497]
§ Mr. HuttonFinancial liability for any subsequent treatment needed by national health service patients following treatment abroad rests with the NHS.
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been carried out abroad but paid for by the NHS since January 2001, broken down by operation; and what the total cost to the NHS of each patient's treatment was while abroad including travel expenses. [127516]
§ Mr. HuttonA total of 477 patients have been referred for treatment abroad as part of the overseas treatment programme since January 2001. Of these, 19 patients have been treated for cardiac procedures, 37 have been treated for ophthalmological procedures and 421 have been treated for orthopaedic procedures.
A procurement process identifying spare capacity abroad is currently active, so the costs of specific procedures abroad are commercially sensitive. However, prices are comparable to spot purchasing in the United Kingdom private sector.