Health and Social Care Bill

Lord Hamilton of Epsom Excerpts

Thursday 19th January 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harris of Haringey]

My Lords—

[Lord Hamilton of Epsom]

My Lords—

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Strathclyde)]

My Lords, I think it is the turn of my noble friend.

NHS: Hospitals

Lord Hamilton of Epsom Excerpts

Thursday 8th September 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hamilton of Epsom]

Does my noble friend accept that productivity in the NHS has been absolutely abysmal over recent years and that the private sector, if it comes in to run hospitals better, may be able to raise it?

[Earl Howe]

My noble friend is right. The statistics for the productivity of the NHS over the past 10 or 12 years show that it has actually gone down by about 3 per cent in total. We certainly think that the private sector has a role to play in places where it can introduce the higher quality of service that patients actually want. There is no question, however, of the Government forcing private enterprise into health services where it is not wanted and not in the interest of patients.