General Practitioners (Contract) (Hansard, 25 July 1989)

§ 16. Mr. Fearn
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about the new contract for general practitioners.

§ 17. Mr. Kirkwood
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on the proposed contract for general practitioners.

§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke
I met Mr. Michael Wilson and his negotiating team from the General Medical Services Committee yesterday.
The Government are proceeding with the preparation of the necessary amendments to regulations and to the GPs' statement of fees and allowances. Subject to Parliament's approval, the reforms to the GPs' contract will be introduced on 1 April 1990.

§ 33. Mr. Henderson
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will next be meeting the chairman of the British Medical Association to discuss progress on negotiations over the general practitioners' contract.

§ 57. Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will next be meeting the chairman of the British Medical Association to discuss progress on negotiations over the general practitioners' contract.

§ 85. Mr. John Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will next be meeting the chairman of the British Medical Association to discuss progress on negotiations over the general practitioners' contract.

§ 88. Mr. Caborn
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will next be meeting the chairman of the British Medical Association to discuss progress on negotiations over the general practitioners' contract.

§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke
I have no plans at present to meet the chairman of the British Medical Association on this subject, but I met the chairman of the General Medical Services Committee and his negotiating team on 24 July.

§ 34. Mr. Irvine
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the new general practitioners' contract will affect health promotion clinics and regular check-ups.

§ Mr. Mellor
The new contract will for the first time introduce a fee for GPs providing health promotion clinics. It will also require GPs to offer health check-ups to patients newly registering with them, and patients who have not seen their GP for three years.

§ 41. Mr. Janman
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the new general practitioners' contract will affect the performance of minor surgery by general practitioners.

§ 89. Mr. Jacques Arnold
To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent general practitioners will be able to carry out minor surgery under the terms of the new general practitioners' contract.

§ Mr. Mellor
The new contract will for the first time introduce a fee for suitably qualified GPs who provide 661W minor surgery services to patients. This will encourage the provision of minor surgery by GPs and relieve the pressure on out-patient departments.

§ 45. Mr. Conway
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the implications in the new general practitioners' contract for the assessment of the health care of young children.

§ Mr. Mellor
The new contract will for the first time introduce a fee for GPs who provide child health surveillance services to children on their lists, according to programmes agreed by the district health authority. There will also be new incentives to encourage GPs to help achieve high levels of coverage for childhood immunisations. District health authorities will continue to be responsible for monitoring health care services for young children, and GPs will be required to keep them fully informed of the services they provide. DHAs will work in close co-operation with family practitioner committees.

§ 47. Mr. Anthony Coombs
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the implications of the new general practitioners' contract for immunisation and screening policies.

§ Mr. Mellor
By introducing new payments linked to the achievement of specified levels of coverage for childhood immunisation and cervical cytology, the new contract will offer GPs a powerful incentive to help raise coverage among their patients.

§ 48. Mr. Curry
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how health care in deprived areas will be affected by the new general practitioners' contract.

§ 60. Mr. Maples
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the implications of the new general practitioners' contract for services in deprived areas.

§ Mr. Mellor
The new contract will help improve services in deprived areas. Changes to their remuneration system will encourage GPs to practise in areas of deprivation by recognising the special circumstances involved. In future family practitioner committees will be able to target funds for premises improvements and practice team expansion to improve services in these areas. The greater emphasis in the new contract on preventive care will mean that patients in deprived areas will benefit as GPs seek to improve the levels of protection against childhood diseases and cancer of the cervix.

§ 67. Mr. John Greenway
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the implications of the new general practitioners' contract for health care for elderly patients.

§ 79. Mr. Hannam
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the new general practitioners' contract will affect health care for elderly patients.

§ Mr. Mellor
The new contract will lead to improved services to elderly people. As a result of changes to their terms of service and remuneration system GPs will have a powerful incentive to strive to provide them with the best possible care. There will be a significantly increased capitation free for patients over the age of 75, and in return for this GPs will he expected to offer annually a thorough health assessment, including a home visit if the patient wishes.

§ 68. Mr. McLoughlin
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the new general practitioners' contract will affect preventive health care.
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§ 71. Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details of how the new general practitioners' contract will affect preventive health care.

§ Mr. Mellor
The new contract forms an important part of our policy of encouraging health promotion and the prevention of ill-health. General practitioners' terms of service will make clear their role in these areas, and there will be new payments encouraging the provision of health promotion clinics, check-ups for newly registered patients and the achievement of high levels of coverage for cervical cancer screening and childhood immunisations.

§ 90. Mr. Nicholas Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the implications of the new general practitioners' contract for night visits by doctors.

§ Mr. Mellor
The hours during which a night visit fee may be claimed will be extended and a higher fee introduced for GPs who make their own visits or who arrange visits in a small rota of no more than 10 doctors. This will reward those doctors who ensure continuity of care to their patients during out-of-hours periods.