12. What assessment he has made of the use made by the NHS of services commissioned from independent sector treatment centres. (300150)

Independent sector treatment centres have treated more than 2 million NHS patients and helped to reduce waiting times and improve patient choice.

The Care Quality Commission carried out a report on the Eccleshill treatment centre in Bradford at the request of the coroner after the death of my constituent, John Hubley, in 2007. A freedom of information request has shown that in January this year, the centre still did not have adequate risk-management procedures or responses to emergency surgical situations. When can we finally have a debate about NHS use of such facilities? Is it right to send patients there when safety procedures are not adequate?

Debates are a matter for the usual channels. We of course extend our condolences to the family of Dr. John Hubley. The coroner stated that he was satisfied that there was no ongoing system failure at the Eccleshill treatment centre. The Care Quality Commission has looked into this and will continue to monitor it to ensure that quality standards are met, but 96 per cent. of patients who use ISTCs have recorded either excellent or very good quality services.