(2) whether the value of the contract for the walk-in centre at Canary Wharf changes according to throughput; whether it is (a) a fixed price block contract, (b) a cost and volume contract and (c) a payment by results contract with a fixed sum per case seen;
The value of the contract depends on use of the service as the contract price is a combination of fixed cost elements and a price per patient. The total value of the contract is commercial in confidence.
This national health service walk-in centre is intended to provide services for commuters and local people. It is now funded centrally by the Department and our intention is that, in time, it should be funded locally, with costs shared between the primary care trusts whose patients use it. That is not possible yet and we have guaranteed central funding for at least three years.
Information on the weekly number of episodes of care provided at the Canary Wharf national health service walk-in centre is shown in the following table.
Week commencing Episodes of care 2006 17 April 6 24 April 69 1 May 97 8 May 171 15 May 173 22 May 184 29 May 177 5 June 250 12 June 272 19 June 316 26 June 272 Notes: 1. The Canary Wharf walk-in centre commenced services on 21 April 2006. 2. Data for April and May, the latest available, indicates that 58 per cent. of the people using the service are local to the area of Tower Hamlets primary care trust.