§ Lord Hyltonto ask Her Majesty's Government:
What funding is now provided by the Department of Health for GPs working exclusively or mainly with homeless people; how many GPs are involved and where; and what provision they are making for continuing this service after the end of the present financial year.
§ Lord HeskethUnder their terms of service GPs provide general medical services to all their patients, including homeless people. However, the Department of Health is involved in three schemes, each employing a GP specifically for the limited purpose of treating homeless people. The sum of £40,000 has been provided in the current financial year by the Department of Health for the salaries of the GPs employed in the schemes run by Camden and Islington and the City and East London family practitioner committees. Decisions on the future funding of these schemes will be taken following an evaluation. Funding has been agreed in principle for the third scheme in Leeds family practitioner commitee's locality which is to commence later in this financial year.