§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per case handled has been of the National Clinical Assessment Authority. [158758]
§ Mr. HuttonThe National Clinical Assessment Authority (NCAA) was established to help the National Health Service manage performance concerns about doctors and dentists. For the majority of the NCAA's casework (about 75 per cent.), the average direct cost is estimated at around £330 per case. A smaller proportion of cases (about 15 per cent.) require more detailed expert support of local case management, at an estimated average cost of between £7,500 to £8,500 per case. The estimated average cost of full clinical performance assessment is between £22,400 and £24,300 per case, depending on whether it is an hospital and community care or primary care case; full clinical performance assessment occurs in about only 10 per cent. of referrals made to the NCAA.