The reconfiguration of local health services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service changes should be led by clinicians and be in the best interests of patients, not driven from the top down.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
It is for NHS commissioners and providers to work together, with local authorities, patients and the public, in bringing forward proposals that will improve the quality, safety and sustainability of healthcare services.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Any changes must be supported by the Government\u2019s four tests for service change, namely:<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
- support from general practitioner commissioners;<\/p>
<\/p>
- clarity on the clinical evidence base;<\/p>
<\/p>
- robust patient and public engagement; and<\/p>
<\/p>
- support for patient choice.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Once a decision on a local case for change has been made, it is up to the NHS to ensure its local services meet the needs of its population.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
More generally, we would expect any local plans for changes to acute services to take full account of the impact on neighbouring hospitals.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T12:41:26.5594108Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Accident and Emergency Departments"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what has been the impact since 2009 of the closure of accident and emergency departments on neighbouring hospitals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3701", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness McDonagh"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness McDonagh"} ], "uin" : "HL2242"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99969", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99969/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
NHS England is responsible for procurement in relation to general practitioner practices, as holders of the contract for General Practice. When procuring these services, NHS England must work within the Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition Regulations 2013, and make sure that they take fair and transparent decisions on the best provider to deliver those services for National Health Service patients.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The factors used to evaluate bids, in each procurement process, including the consideration of references and track records, are determined on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL2185"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T12:39:20.5422572Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "General Practitioners"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether the procurement process operated by NHS England in relation to general practitioner practices allows for the track record of the bidders sufficiently to be taken into account in the procurement decision.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"} ], "uin" : "HL2184"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99970", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/99970/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
NHS England is responsible for procurement in relation to general practitioner practices, as holders of the contract for General Practice. When procuring these services, NHS England must work within the Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition Regulations 2013, and make sure that they take fair and transparent decisions on the best provider to deliver those services for National Health Service patients.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The factors used to evaluate bids, in each procurement process, including the consideration of references and track records, are determined on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "HL2184"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T12:39:21.1094935Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "General Practitioners"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government why the procurement process operated by NHS England in relation to general practitioner practices allows for references in respect of the bidders to be taken up rather than allowing for a review of their track record.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Kings Heath"} ], "uin" : "HL2185"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100194", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100194/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government does not set a benchmark for waiting times to see a general practitioner (GP) for a routine appointment.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The 48 hour waiting time target was removed because it as seen as too inflexible in meeting the needs of patients. The GP patient survey showed that the proportion of people who wanted to get an appointment within 2 days (and were able to) actually fell between 2008-09 and 2009-10 i.e. when the target was in place.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3932", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Central Suffolk and North Ipswich"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Daniel Poulter"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T16:29:44.0722358Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "General Practitioners: Standards"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government's benchmark waiting time is to see a General Practitioner for a routine appointment; and how that benchmark was set.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4025", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Pauline Latham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Derbyshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Pauline Latham"} ], "uin" : "211311"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100195", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100195/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In considering the commissioning and provision of secondary care, it is for commissioners and clinicians locally to design and deliver the models of care that are going to provide the best outcomes for patients.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
NHS England has published a Five Year Forward View which describes the vision for the future of the NHS, including increasing the involvement of General Practitioners in the provision of services traditionally placed in secondary care through \u2018Multispecialty Community Providers\u2019 and \u2018Primary and Acute Care Systems\u2019. A copy of the Five Year Forward View is attached.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100195/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "NHS England- Five Year Forward View.pdf"} , "title" : "NHS England- Five Year Forward View"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T17:11:44.3705967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Health Services"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to simplify the provision and commissioning of secondary care; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4025", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Pauline Latham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Derbyshire"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Pauline Latham"} ], "uin" : "211309"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100196", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100196/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are advised by NHS England that the clinician who authorises Individual Funding Requests for Gamma Knife treatment to be undertaken at the Queens Square Radiology Centre Ltd (QSRC) is a surgeon at the National Hospital for Neurosurgery and Neurology (NHNN), part of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Gamma Knife treatment is not undertaken by UCLH but by the private company QSRC, which is based at NHNN but has no formal relationship with UCLH.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3918", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jane Ellison"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Battersea"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jane Ellison"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T16:54:23.3483501Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Radiotherapy"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the signature authorising Individual Funding Requests made to NHS England for Gamma Knife treatment by University College Hospital London, Queen Square, is that of a senior clinician employed by University College Hospital London.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4089", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tessa Munt"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wells"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tessa Munt"}
], "uin" : "211310"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100204", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100204/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Individual National Health Service trusts are responsible for their own procurement activity and are supported by collaborative procurement organisations working at regional and national level.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>