§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have closed lists for treatment. [155154]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department does not collect this information from national health service trusts.
Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning sufficient activity from NHS trusts and other providers to meet the needs of their local population. The levels of activity required from NHS trusts should be specified in service agreements (SAs) and will represent a ceiling to the trusts' contractual obligations.
Where there are no SAs in place or the activity levels specified in a SA have already been met by the trust, the PCT are responsible for commissioning additional activity to meet the needs of their patients.
HSC 2002/007 (Securing Service Delivery: Commissioning Freedoms of Primary Care Trusts) and HSC 1998/198 (Commissioning in the new NHS), copies of which are in the Library, provide further information.