§ Mr. Butterfillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the arrangements whereby general practitioners are able to claim an annual fee of £8.55 per patient by completing form FP1001 even where that patient is receiving contraceptive guidance, advice and treatment from a family planning clinic.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThese arrangements are the product of longstanding contractual arrangements.
This fee, which is paid by quarterly instalment, should represent payment for services over the course of 12 months. It is payable when the doctor accepts a patient, gives advice and conducts any necessary examination, and where appropriate prescribes contraceptives and provides any follow-up care. The fee is also payable where the doctor takes the necessary steps to determine a method of choice and accepts responsibility for any necessary care but advises the patient to attend an NHS clinic for the fitting of an occlusive cap or an intrauterine device.
When a doctor ceases to provide contraceptive services to the patient, for example when an NHS clinical takes over these responsibilities, we expect the doctor to notify the family practitioner committee and payment of the contraceptive service fee should cease.