HC Deb 25 January 1978 vol 942 c654W
Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria he adopts for measuring the efficiency of health centres; what services should normally be provided by health centres; and whether he is satisfied with their performance to date.

Mr. Moyle

Health centres are provided to enable general medical practitioners, district nurses, health visitors and possibly others to work together as members of a primary health care team: in some cases, in conjunction with other community health services. The fulfilment of the aims of health centres does not lend itself to precise measurement, but the Departments regional medical service is in regular contact with general medical practitioners, including those operating with primary health care teams in health centres, and I am satisfied that these aims are very largely being achieved.