Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the implications are for patients who remain on the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery on 1 December 2016 of Circle Holdings PLC being awarded the contract for musculoskeletal services in Greenwich; and if he will make a statement.

We are advised by NHS England that patients already on the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery will continue on their pathway as planned as at 1 December 2016.

We are further advised by NHS England that Circle Health as the prime provider will liaise with the providers in question to change the pathway or expedite admission where clinical need arises.