NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Mr. Laws
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to open new private sector diagnostic and treatment centres for NHS patients; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bradshaw
As part of the Phase 2 Independent Sector (IS) Procurement Programme, the Secretary of State has announced that approvals are in place for two new PET-CT schemes which will provide scanning services in the North and South of England, and for a new renal scheme which will provide dialysis services in Cheshire and Merseyside, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire to proceed to financial close. Seven other Phase 2 IS schemes will also proceed through the procurement process. These services will be run by the IS but funded by the national health service, and free to NHS patients.