§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to ensure that, for non-emergency hospital treatments, patients of general practitioner fund holders and non-fund holders will have equally speedy access.
§ Mr. StewartThe Government's framework for the GP fund holding scheme seeks to maintain a proper balance between providing GP fund holders with an appropriate degree of flexibility in the use of their fund to provide benefits for their patients, and preserving the principle of equality of access to health care for all NHS patients. GP fund holders, in providing care themselves or in setting contracts with other providers, will be able to develop improved stndards in the quality of care for their patients provided as a consequence they do not directly disadvantage NHS patients from other practices.