§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department has refused financial help for the London-based general practitioner Dr. Brian James to complete his studies into the value for money obtained from bettering general practitioner services by forming group practices in reducing the need for hospitalisation.
§ Dr. VaughanI assume that the hon. Member is referring to Dr. Brian Jarman.
The Department funded, until 30 June 1981, a research project into prescribing costs in general practice, under the directorship of Dr. Conrad Harris of the department of general practice at St. Mary's hospital medical school; Dr. Brian Jarman was a member of the research team. The final report is awaited.
Dr. Harris has requested an extension of funding to 31 December 1981 to enable him to keep his team together while they work up a new research proposal on
Admissions to Hospital and the extent to which these are determined by General Practitioner's attitudes and Practice organisations".This request is still under consideration. The Department's research budget for 1981–82 is under severe strain and decisions on all research proposals must await the outcome of a review of priorities now nearing completion. Dr. Harris will be told of the decision on his application at the earliest possible moment.