§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that the maximum number of patients for whom any doctor can receive payment is 2,500; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThere are no plans to place a limit on the number of patients for whom a doctor can receive payment. List sizes have been falling steadily for a number of years with the average now below 2,000.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the budgets allocated to each general practitioner fundholding practice(a) in total and (b) per patient registered with the practice.
82W
§ Mr. DorrellBudgets for general practitioner fund-holding practices are approved by regional health authorities and this information is therefore not held centrally.
§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners in Britain have over 3,000 patients on their list; how many of these are single-handed; and how many serve inner-city areas.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyAt 1 April 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 2,563 general practitioners in England with a personal list size of over 3,000 patients, of whom 394 are working single-handed. Information about the number of these doctors serving inner-city areas is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information relating to Wales and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland.