HC Deb 14 May 1984 vol 60 cc65-6W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those items for which a general practitioner receives payment in addition to the capitation fee per patient.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

In addition to capitation fee payments, general medical practitioners may qualify for any of the following fees and allowances:

  1. 1. Basic practice allowance (including leave payment).
  2. 2. Additions to the basic practice allowance in respect of
    1. (i) Practice situtated in a designated area.
    2. (ii) Practice as a member of a group.
    3. (iii) Seniority.
    4. (iv) Vocational training.
    5. (v) Employment of an assistant (full-time)
    or where the principal (or in a partnership all principals) receive an addition as the practice is in a designated area.
  3. 3. Payments for out-of-hours responsibilities.
    1. (i) A supplementary practice allowance.
    2. (ii) A supplementary capitation fee for each patient in excess of 1,000 on the practitioner's list (or in excess of 1,000 per practitioner on the combined list of practitioners, practising in partnership.)
    3. (iii) A fee for a night visit.
  4. 4. A fee for an item of service carried out for reasons of public policy:
    1. (i) Vaccination and immunisation.
    2. (ii) Cervical cytology test.
  5. 5. Fees for provision of contraceptive services.
    1. (i) Ordinary.
    2. (ii) Intrauterine device fee.
  6. 6. Fees for the the provision of maternity medical services by a practitioner.
    1. (i) Complete maternity services.
    2. (ii) Ante-natal care.
    3. (iii) Miscarriage.
    4. (iv) Care during confinement.
    5. (v) Complete post-natal care.
    6. (vi) Partial post-natal care.
    7. (vii) Second practitioner called in to give anaesthetic.
  7. 7. A fee for the treatment of a temporary resident.
  8. 8. A fee for treatment given by a practitioner in an emergency to a patient not in his list and not eligible to be treated as a temporary resident.
    1. (i) Emergency consultation.
    2. (ii) Minor surgical operation requiring local or general anaesthetic.
    3. (iii) Treatment of fracture.
    4. (iv) Reduction of disclocation.
    5. (v) Administration of general anaesthetic.
  9. 9. A payment in cases in which the practitioner is required to provide the services of a second practitioner for the purposes of administering a general anaesthetic except in connection with maternity medical services.
    10. 66
  10. 10.
    1. (i) Fee for the arrest of dental haemorrhage or for the provision of after care.
    2. (ii) Fee for removal of plugs and/or stitches only.
  11. 11. A fee for immediately necessary treatment given by a practitioner under paragraphs 4(3) or 4(4) of his terms of service.
  12. 12. Postgraduate training allowance.
  13. 13. Payments in respect of the trainee practitioner scheme.
    1. (i) Training grant.
    2. (ii) Allowance for additional motor vehicle.
    3. (iii) Trainee's salary and board and lodging.
    4. (iv) London weighting.
  14. 14. Payments under the doctors' retainer scheme.
  15. 15. Initial practice allowance.
  16. 16. Rural practice payments.
  17. 17. Payments in respect of the supply of drugs or appliances.
  18. 18. Inducement payments.
  19. 19. Additional payments during sickness.
  20. 20. Additional payments during confinement.
  21. 21. Prolonged study leave-allowance.
  22. 22. Payments under the rent and rates scheme.
  23. 23. Payments under the ancillary staff scheme.
  24. 24. Related ancillary staff allowance.
  25. 25. Improvement grant.

Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of general practitioners in private practice in England and Wales and of the number of patients who use their services.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We do not collect this information.

Mr. Sims

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of allowing general practitioners' prescriptions for private patients to be supplied under the National Health Service.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

There is no reliable information on the number of prescriptions issued to private patients by general practitioners, so I cannot give any specific figure. Supply by the NHS would, however, inevitably add to a drugs bill that is already excessive at £1,250 million a year.