Written question asked by Julia Drown (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 November 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 26 November 2002. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 November 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what cost benefit analysis has been carried out of the transfer of Public Health Laboratories to host NHS trusts.

Answer: Ms Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost benefit analysing has been carried out of the transfer of public health laboratories to host NHS trusts. [82141] Ms Blears: The benefits of transferring laboratories of the Public Health Laboratory Service to national health service trusts include: it is essential to create a comprehensive, coherent surveillance system, as described in the Chief Medical Officer's strategy, "Getting Ahead of the Curve"; it will broaden the number of clinical staff required to report the occurrence of infectious diseases; it will place a duty of care on all microbiology laboratories to report for public health surveillance purposes; and generally, the transfers will bring public health activities within the mainstream of the NHS. The transfers are being implemented at no overall cost.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 82141; 395 c217-8W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Cost benefit analysis NHS trusts Public Health Laboratory Service Laboratories
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk