HC Deb 12 December 1989 vol 163 cc609-10W
50. Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the general practitioner contract.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on 28 November 1989 at column222.

71. Mr. John Townsend

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average size of general practitioners' patients lists at the current time; and what it was in 1979.

104. Mr. David Martin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients there are on the average general practitioners' list now and in 1979.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The average number of patients on the list of unrestricted principals in England at 1 October 1988 was 1,999, compared with 2,286 in 1979.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he expects new money to be made available for those general practitioners who will work harder in order to gain from the new contract.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

General practitioners who work hardest in providing a comprehensive service and thereby attract and keep patients on their lists will be better paid in future. The cost of the new contract is a matter on which the Government is awaiting the advice of the review body on doctors' and dentists' remuneration. The review body's report is expected early in 1990.

Mr. Evennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are in the National Health Service now and in 1979.

107. Mr. Gale

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of general practitioners employed by the National Health Service now and in 1979.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The number of unrestricted principals in England at 1 October 1988 was 25,322 compared with 21,357 in 1979.

85. Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of support staff employed by general practitioners at present and in 1979.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The total number of staff qualifying for direct reimbursement under the ancillary staff scheme increased by 70 per cent. from 33,721 (20,121 whole-time equivalents) in 1979 to 57,410 (33,863 whole-time equivalents) in 1988. A few general practitioners employ support staff outside the scope of the present scheme; information about these staff is not collected centrally.