§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of savings was achieved by general practitioner fundholders in Northern Ireland during 1993–94, and if he will make a statement. [33503]
§ Mr. MossIn 1993–94, the first year of the fundholding scheme in Northern Ireland, savings retained by fundholding GPs amount to £2,456,539, representing some 8 per cent. of budgets set. GPs are obliged by law to spend savings in ways which will benefit their patients. In the main, practices are, to date, using their savings on initiatives such as reducing waiting lists, funding additional services, purchasing clinical equipment and, in one case, redeveloping a health centre.
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