§ 13. Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the publication of business plans for the primary health care centres projected in the north-west. [23476]
§ Mr. DorrellNorth West region has announced a programme of development of primary care resource centres to which it has allocated nearly £20 million. Proposals for those developments in each locality are the responsibility of local NHS management.
§ Mr. PickthallDoes it not concern the Secretary of State that, when the regional executive makes such attractive promises, it says nothing about the revenue consequences—the so-called revenue tail? How are local health authorities supposed to fund and plan the centres? Is this not a mechanism to stall such desirable developments, while making it sound as though something is being done?
§ Mr. DorrellIf it is a mechanism to stall the developments, it is remarkably unsuccessful. Eight centres in North West region are already functioning—five in Liverpool, one in Manchester, one in St Helens and one in Salford, which my hon. Friend the Minister of State opened at the beginning of March—and we are committed to bringing a further 10 on stream. I hoped that, rather than decrying this development, the hon. Gentleman would welcome an important improvement in the quality of primary health care available to his constituents and others living in the region.