§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers health authorities have to impose financial penalties on general practitioner fundholders who have patients waiting over 18 months for surgery.
§ Dr. MawhinneyNone. Fundholders are expected to comply with patients charter standards in the same way as district health authorities, and are providing extremely effective in improving waiting times.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the case identified by a general practitioner in a letter to the hon. Member for Congleton, a copy of which has been drawn to her attention in a letter of 11 January, about priority used by the North Staffordshire infirmary in the allocation of treatment to the patients of fundholding and non-fundholding general practices is consistent with her policies; what action she has taken in that case; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 17 January 1994]: This was an issue about magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Patients are referred for a scan on the basis of urgent clinical need and there is no preference for the patients of either fundholders or non-fundholding general practitioners.