HC Deb 22 May 1989 vol 153 cc413-4W
Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many home visits he estimates are made by the average general practitioner; to what extent he expects that number to increase as a result of revision of the general practitioners' contract; and what was the figure in 1979.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested, based on the small sample used for the general household survey, is estimated as follows:

England
Average list size Number of Home Visits
1979 2,286 1,320
1987 2,020 1,290

Although under the new contract for GPs we expect patients aged 75 and over to be visited annually as part of their general health assessment, this requirement need not be carried out by the GP personally.