§ 26. Mr. David MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the effect will be of the proposed general practitioners' contracts on(a) preventive medicine and (b) patient service.
60. Mr. Andy StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the effects of the proposed general practitioners' contracts on(a) patient service and (b) preventive medicine.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe proposals in the report "General Practice in the National Health Service—A New Contract", which I have sent to all GPs, are intended to improve the quality of the family doctor service, and to place greater emphasis on health promotion and the prevention of ill-health. Specific changes which will improve services to patients include regular check-ups, particularly for children and people aged over 75, more health promotion clinics, more minor surgery in the GP's premises to save patients having to attend hospital and the extension of practice teams to include not only practice nurses, but also counsellors, chiropodists, physiotherapists and other health professionals.
As to preventive care, GPs will be encouraged to optimise cover for childhood immunisation and screening for cervical cancer. This will be achieved through target payments to which GPs will be entitled on reaching certain targets.