Health: Funding

Lord Elystan-Morgan Excerpts

Tuesday 1st November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, I appreciate everything that the noble Lord has said. He may like to know that the protocol to which I have referred states as follows:

“The patient’s safety and well-being must be paramount at all times. No treatment must be refused or delayed due to uncertainty or ambiguity as to which”—

local health board or PCT—

“is responsible for funding the healthcare provision”.

I think that that should give patients in Wales every reassurance.

[Lord Elystan-Morgan]

My Lords, does the Minister accept that there is one very specific matter in relation to transborder matters in Wales, and that is in relation to Powys? Despite strategic policy decisions of many years ago, Powys has never had a district general hospital, with the result that there is a very considerable flow from north-east Powys to hospitals in the Shrewsbury and Telford area. Will he give an undertaking that, whatever happens, that system will continue?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, nothing in the Government’s plans will impede the flow of Welsh patients into England. I can give the noble Lord that reassurance.