§ Mr. Alan CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP appointments were missed(a) in the Newcastle and North Tyneside Health Authority Area and (b) nationally during 1997; and at what estimated cost. [49335]
§ Mr. MilburnData on general practitioner appointments are not collected.
In December 1997, the Department provided funding of £1 million to the Doctor Patient Partnership (DPP) which is a campaign run by the British Medical Association to encourage patients to make more 220W appropriate use of primary care services. The DPP sponsors various national campaigns to encourage patients to think about their responsibilities as well as their rights. One of the campaigns it has run this year was entitled "Keep it or cancel it!". It focused on appointment-keeping and was targeted at those patients who fail to keep appointments.