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Hospital Beds: Young People

Volume 479: debated on Monday 21 July 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assessment and treatment beds were commissioned for young people in each year since 2000. (219223)

The information requested is not collected centrally.

Commissioning for local health services is the responsibility of local primary care trusts (PCTs). PCT commissioners are responsible for assessing local health needs and meeting these needs through strategic planning and contracting with local health care providers. Recognising that PCTs’ commissioning decisions are crucial to improve the population’s health and well-being, the Department has launched the World Class Commissioning Programme, which aims to improve commissioning across the national health service.

The programme includes a commissioning assurance system that holds PCTs to account and rewards performance and development as they move towards world class. While commissioning decisions will rightly remain at local level, this national framework of assurance will ensure that all PCTs across the NHS are employing the very best commissioning processes to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.