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Hospital Trusts (Essex)

My hon. Friend makes a very important point. He is right that the latest findings on patient satisfaction in the NHS show that 93 per cent. of patients rate the care that they receive as excellent or good. I have asked myself precisely the same question as my hon. Friend and I referred in my statement to my intention to bring forward proposals soon about how we can link payment for hospitals more closely to patient satisfaction and quality, as indicated in Lord Darzi's next stage review. I think that it is the way forward. It will enable us to focus the minds of those working in the management of hospitals on patients and, as my hon. Friend suggests, to make them the centre of concern. We will shortly present plans to increase the proportion of the tariff system that is accounted for by quality and safety.