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NHS Treatment Centres

Volume 457: debated on Monday 5 March 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to establish independent sector treatment centres in Northern Ireland; and what research has been undertaken by his Department in relation to the demand for such facilities in Northern Ireland. (125018)

There are currently no plans to develop independent sector treatment centres in Northern Ireland. However, in the context of securing shorter waiting times for patients, I am committed to making appropriate use of the independent sector while at the same time developing additional hospital capacity and reforming hospital systems and processes. Considerable capacity analysis work is ongoing to identify any long term capacity shortfalls requiring investment, and also any short-term backlogs where the independent sector can assist by providing necessary additional capacity.