HC Deb 07 July 1992 vol 211 cc144-5W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will hold talks with the chairman of the Mid-Cheshire trust on priorities given to fund-holding general practitioners in gynaecology.

Mr. Sackville

It is a matter for the trust to agree contracts with purchasers.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will investigate the effects on patients of fund-holding general practitioners in the Crewe and Nantwich area.

Dr. Mawhinney

No.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued to trust hospitals to ensure that patients from fund-holding general practitioners do not take precedence over the patients of non-fund-holding general practitioners.

Dr. Mawhinney

In June of last year, the national health service management executive and the joint consultants committee of the British Medical Association issued guidance on GP fund holding in EL(91)84, a copy of which is available in the Library. This sets out the criteria for acceptable contracts to be agreed between GP fund holders and all NHS hospitals, whether or not they have trust status. It clearly states that hospitals should not offer contracts to fund holders which would disadvantage patients of other purchasers.