Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Spencer Excerpts

Tuesday 13th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North) (Con)]

4. What progress his Department has made on its long-term plans for easing pressures on A and E departments and preparing the NHS for the future.

[Mr Mark Spencer (Sherwood) (Con)]

13. What progress his Department has made on its long-term plans for easing pressures on A and E departments and preparing the NHS for the future.

[Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con)]

15. What progress his Department has made on its long-term plans for easing pressures on A and E departments and preparing the NHS for the future.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hunt]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Part of the solution to the pressure in A and E is providing good alternatives, and in the last year for which we have figures, the 111 service took 12 million calls, which is three times more than the 4 million calls that NHS Direct took in its last year of operation, and 27% of people said that had they not called 111 they would have gone to A and E. That is a huge success.

[Mr Spencer]

The Secretary of State will be aware of the additional pressure on Sherwood Forest hospitals trust as a result of the £40 million a year disastrous private finance initiative deal signed by the last Government. Will he meet me, my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Robert Jenrick) and representatives from the hospital to discuss how we might move forward and deal with this terrible PFI deal?

[Mr Hunt]

I am aware of the problems with that deal, signed back in 2005, which is now consuming 17% of the trust’s income. It would like to spend that income on more doctors and nurses, but it cannot because of the shockingly bad deal signed. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss what is possible in the current circumstances.