§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the discussion paper sent for his information by Dr. Frazer Browne of Northern Ireland which proposes that single-handed family medical practitioners are financially penalised when their workload is taken into account compared with their colleagues who work in group practices.
§ Mr. AlisonI have been asked to reply.
This discussion paper contained the personal views of Dr. Browne and does not represent official thinking.
There exists a scale of fees and allowances which, after taking into account work load and responsibility, including out-of-hours commitment and allowing for practice expenses, is designed to enable the average family practitioner to receive the intended average net remuneration. Single handed practitioners should not, therefore, be at a disadvantage compared with colleagues who work in group practice.