§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which authority will make the final decisions regarding the boundaries of primary care groups, with particular reference to where centres of population are on the borders of a health authority area; and if it will be possible for a primary care group to cross health authority borders. [41602]
§ Mr. MilburnGuidance issued at Easter (HSC 1998/065) made clear that Primary Care Groups will be based on natural geographical communities of people, typically covering around 100,000 population, and taking account of social services organisational structures. Health authorities are charged with responsibility for establishing the Primary Care Groups and will be required to notify the National Health Service Executive of their local configuration by July 1998.