Accident and Emergency Departments

Mr. Sanders
15. To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to reimburse accident and emergency departments for the treatment costs incurred in treating patients from other NHS trust areas.

Mr. Bradshaw
National health service trusts are reimbursed for the patients they treat, regardless of where the patient lives. This year, for the first time, hospitals can claim reimbursement for accident and emergency services from primary care trusts outside the local area.