§ 26. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to meet the chairman of the BMA to discuss general practice fund holding; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe regularly meet representatives of the medical profession, including the BMA. My hon. Friend will welcome the announcement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was able to make recently of the agreement with the General Medical Services Committee to set up a joint working group on NHS review issues including the evaluation of GP fundholding.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish for community health councils rights of access to information on, and for monitoring of, the manner in which Exchequer money allocated to fundholding general practitioners for the purpose of purchasing services is used, similar to those afforded community health councils in relation to expenditure by district health authorities as purchasing authorities.
§ Mr. DorrellDistrict health authorities retain overall purchasing responsibility for all patients, including those on the lists of fundholding GPs. This provides the mechanism for the community health council to raise any concerns or questions it may have.