§ Mr. William Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent changes have taken place in the scheme of remuneration of family doctors.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyCertain changes to the scheme of remuneration of family doctors introduced in October, 1966, were made following reports by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. Since the Review Body's Tenth Report, the following further changes have been agreed with representatives of the profession:
It has also been agreed with the representatives of the profession that the special payments—at present £400 a year—made to doctors who practise in areas designated as underdoctored shall be at a higher rate in relation to areas where the average number of patients per doctor has been at least 3,000 for 1 year. The Review Body has been informed of this agreement and asked to recommend in its next report what the rates of payment at the two levels should be.
- 1. With effect from 1st April, 1969, the annual allowance paid to certain
145 doctors for the employment of an assistant practitioner has been increased from £500 to £575; and increases have been made in payments under the trainee practitioner scheme. - 2. With effect from 1st October, 1969, doctors working in essential practices in areas where the sparsity of population prevents their attaining a list of 1,000 patients have become eligible for seniority and vocational training allowances at the full rates; and they have similarly become eligible for payments at the maximum rate under the sickness payments scheme.
- 3. With effect from 1st October, 1969, doctors on executive council lists who care for the patients of a practice which is temporarily vacant may receive enhanced capitation fees for the extra patients for up to 26 weeks.