Question
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce tariffs for community health services provided by primary care trusts. [HL5279]
The department has no immediate plans to introduce a tariff for community health services provided by primary care trusts similar to the national tariff in place for acute services provided by hospital trusts. However, Lord Darzi’s report High Quality Care for All emphasised the importance of moving away from block contract funding for community services. The department is helping the National Health Service to establish local currencies (the units of healthcare for payment) and local prices. Further details are in Transforming Community Services: Currency and Pricing Options for Community Services, which has been placed in the Library and is available at ww.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_093008
The department is also exploring the potential for national currencies for child health promotion and end-of-life care.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will retain the national tariff and system of payment by results in any reforms of the National Health Service beyond the next Comprehensive Spending Review. [HL5352]
It is anticipated that the payment by results national tariff will continue as a way of paying providers of care for National Health Service patients beyond the next Comprehensive Spending Review.