HC Deb 23 March 1989 vol 149 c768W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the capitation payments to general practitioners in rural areas will continue for temporary residents.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I have no plans to make alterations to arrangements for the payment of temporary residents fees to any GPs, except where such alterations are consequent upon the proposals I am putting to the profession's representatives and which are set out in "General Practice in the NHS—A New Contract". For example, I am proposing to extend the period during which a night visit fee may be claimed in respect of permanent patients and consequently in respect of temporary residents.

Mr. Michael Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will be in a position to provide a figure for the substantial extra resources to be devoted to the family practitioner service in relation to any new general practitioner contract.

Mr. Mellor

General practitioners' remuneration is determined by the Government acting on advice from the doctors and dentists review body. As part of their evidence to the review body later this year, the Government will consider what additional resources they believe appropriate.

Mr. Michael Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest average income of a general practitioner principal net of all practice expenses.

Mr. Mellor

The current intended average net income for general medical practitioners is £28,800 per annum. The Government have accepted the recommendation in the nineteenth report of the doctors and dentists review body that this should be increased to £31,105 per annum from 1 April 1989.

Mr. Baldry

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether general practitioners who hold practice budgets will be able to create a surplus by sending patients to hospital accident and emergency services.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I expect health authorities to satisfy themselves that referral to A and E Departments is not being used as a substitute for out-patient referral and they will continue to do so in future in the case of all GPs whether practice budget holders or not. I do not expect that GP's would use such a device because of their professional integrity and because such a procedure would cause annoyance to their hospital colleagues and inconvenience and bewilderment to their patients.