HC Deb 10 April 2001 vol 366 c592W
23. Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from doctors regarding the operation of primary care groups. [156306]

Mr. Denham

We have regular meetings with a range of organisations and receive feedback from primary care professionals on the operation of primary care groups. Primary care groups continue to provide a strong framework for doctors and nurses to support each other, and enable practices to innovate while ensuring that the benefits of innovation deliver high quality services for the whole local population.

35. Mr. Healey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of primary care trusts in relation to local mental health services. [156320]

Mr. Hutton

Where it is appropriate and a primary care trust (PCT) has the capacity to do so, it can directly provide mental health services to its population in a primary or community setting. Alternatively where it is appropriate for mental health services to be provided by another organisation such as a National Health Service mental health trust, the role of the PCT will be to commission the service from that trust.

The decision as to which role a PCT will play is one for each local health system following consultation on any proposals to change the way services may be provided. These proposals would be as a result of the clinical needs of their patients as determined through the implementation of the National Service Framework for mental health services and the NHS plan.

Mr. Bill O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of general practitioners to improve the services of primary care trusts; and if he will make a statement. [156300]

Mr. Denham

We have recently announced measures (including financial incentives) to encourage general practitioner recruitment and retention. The primary care workforce review, due to report shortly, is expected to include further recommendations on numbers of GPs and other staff and on ways of working to deliver the planned expansion of primary care.