§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the present procedures whereby medical doctors can remove patients from their panel list without being required to give any reason; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySince the foundation of the NHS, a GP has had a right (subject to certain safeguards as regards necessary treatment) to remove a patient from his or her list without giving a reason. With effect from April 1990 patients have had the same right to withdraw from a doctor's list without giving a reason. The Family Health Service Authority will help any patient who has problems in finding another doctor, and, if necessary, will allocate the patient to a doctor's list.