§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total cost of his Department's policy to franchise the management of failing NHS trusts. [154100]
§ Mr. HuttonStaff time is not recorded by task undertaken and it is therefore not possible to differentiate the amount of time allocated to this task by the organisations involved.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on franchising the management of failing NHS trusts. [154141]
§ Mr. HuttonNational health service franchising is a way of introducing new senior management to poorly performing NHS organisations as a means of improving performance.
Franchising is only considered for zero star trusts, which are unable to demonstrate their capacity under existing management for sustainable improvements in performance. Normally, it is a last resort for trusts where less direct forms of assistance, support and/or intervention have already failed or are considered unlikely to succeed.
It is for strategic health authorities to decide what support and intervention is necessary in zero star trusts and primary care trusts.