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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid to non-NHS health providers in (a) the UK, (b) Germany and (c) elsewhere for the treatment of (i) members of HM armed forces and (ii) their families in each of the past five years. [118799] Mr. Caplin :[holding answer 12 June 2003]: Payments to private healthcare providers in the United Kingdom in respect of treatment of Service personnel totalled £0.769 million in 2000-01, £4.095 million in 2001-02 and £3.326 million in 2002-03 These costs relate to centrally run treatment initiatives and single Service schemes. No expenditure on private healthcare providers has been recorded centrally prior to 2000-01. Medical care for dependents of Service personnel in the UK is the responsibility of the NHS. Healthcare in Germany is provided by the British Forces Germany Health Service (BFGHS), a consortium comprising the Ministry of Defence, Guys and St Thomas' Healthcare Trust (GST) and the Soldiers' Sailors, and Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA). Secondary healthcare is mainly provided by 5 Designated German Provider (DGP) hospitals under contracts managed by GST on behalf of the BFGHS for all Service and MOD UK-based civil servants and their families.Total Payments to GST, SSAFA and to non- DGP hospitals in each of the last five years were as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year £ million 1998-99 34.180 1999-2000 35.945 2000-01 32.498 2001-02 32.498 2002-03 34.687 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The figures include the contract cost of primary and community care for Service and civilian personnel and entitled dependants. The figures exclude the cost of primary care for RAF personnel and their dependents prior to 2001-02 as this was provided separately by the RAF. It is not possible to identify separately costs incurred in respect of Service personnel and their dependents. Details of payments to non-NHS healthcare providers elsewhere in the world are only available in respect of Cyprus and Gibraltar. Figures are not available for other locations, as they would only be recorded at unit level and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Figures for Cyprus and Gibraltar are shown as follows: _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year £ million 1998-99 0.348 1999-2000 0.494 2000-01 0.174 2001-02 0.119 2002-03 0.129 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The figures cover the cost of all treatment provided outside of the service hospitals at these locations, for Service personnel, MOD UK-based civil servants and their dependents, it is not possible to identify separately costs incurred in respect of Service personnel, their dependents and other entitled personnel.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

118799; 409 c896-7W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Armed forces Costs Cyprus Health services Gibraltar Germany Private sector Medical treatments Payments Medical treatments abroad

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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