Clause 1 - NHS foundation trusts
Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill
11:00 am
Mr John Hutton (Minister of State, Department of Health; Barrow and Furness, Labour)
I have now lost patience with the hon. Gentleman, because he knows absolutely nothing about the Bill. It is clear from his intervention that he does not understand the importance of authorisation for legitimising the activities of an NHS foundation trust. We will listen to the hon. Gentleman when he has done his homework more thoroughly and is familiar with the terms of the Bill. The authorisation in clause 14 is critical, and the authorisation in clause 14(2) would allow an NHS foundation trust to treat patients from other parts of the national health service.