Written question asked by Lord Hammond of Runnymede (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 September 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 November 2003. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research informed the grouping of diagnostic and treatment centres into the chain which includes the proposed Ashford centre.

Answer: Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research informed the grouping of diagnostic and treatment centres into the chain which includes the proposed Ashford centre. [131503] Mr. Hutton: In autumn 2002, the national health service undertook a national capacity planning process lead by local NHS commissioners. This identified a range of capacity gaps that needed to be met for the NHS to meet the waiting time target set for 2005. Where the NHS was not able to demonstrate plans to meet this demand the residual activity was market tested in December 2002 through an official journal of the European Community (OJEC) advert. In light of the preliminary response, the chains were configured to link capacity gaps of similar activity and organised in a way that the market could provide a rapid response.

Secondary information