§ Mr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the examinations, procedures, tests, and so on for which general medical practitioners are allowed to claim from his Department additional payments or fees and the total cost and cost per item of each examination, procedure, test, and so on;
(2) what was the average income of general medical practitioners for the latest period for which statistics are available; and what percentage of this income was derived from fees or additional payments for examinations, procedures, tests, and so on for which they are entitled to claim.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeInformation about examinations, procedures, tests, and so on for which general medical practitioners are allowed to claim is provided in the table. In 1982–83, the latest year for which information about payments is available, the average gross income of general medical practitioners was about £34,700 (this excludes payments for the supply of drugs). Nearly 10 per cent. of that gross income was derived from the fees set out as follows.
295W
Examination, Test or Procedure On the Obstetric List Cost per item (Fees payable from 1 April 1982*) Not on the Obstretric List Total £ £ £ £ million (i) Complete maternity medical services 77.65 45.30.1 29.680 (ii) Ante-natal care: Women booking up to the 16th week of pregnancy 45.30 26.45 Women booking from the 17th week to the 30th week of pregnancy 34.00 19.85 Women booking from the 31st week of pregnancy 22.65 13.25 (iii) Miscarriage 25.90 16.20 (iv) Care during confinement 12.95 7.55 (v) Complete post-natal care 19.40 13.85 (vi) Partial post-natal care: (a) each attendance 2.60 1.85 subject to a maximum of 13.00 9.25 (b) full post-natal examination 6.40 4.60 (vii) Second practitioner called in to give anaesthetic 18.25 18.25 A fee for the treatment of a temporary resident who at the time of first obtaining treatment: (i) expects to remain in the district for not more than a further 15 days 4.20 3.774 (ii) expects to remain in the district for more than 15 days 6.35 3.758 A fee for treatment given by a practitioner in an emergency to a patient not on his list and not eligible to be treated as a temporary resident: (i) Emergency consultation: 0.578 (a) Involving a night visit 12.75 (b) other 10.90 (ii) Minor surgical operation requiring local or general anaesthetic 10.90 (iii) Treatment of fracture 10.90 (iv) Reduction of dislocation 10.90 (v) Administration of general anaesthetic 18.25 A payment in cases in which the practitioner is required to provide the services of a second practitioner for the purposes of administering a general anaesthetic except in connection with Maternity Medical Services: 18.25 0.079 (i) Fee for the arrest of dental haemorrhage or for the provision of after care 10.90 0.010 (ii) Fee for removal of plugs and/or stitches only 7.45 * The fees given are for 1982–83 the latest year for which payments information is available. They have since been revised. † Per annum. Payment figures for 1982–83 include some items of service performed in the previous financial year and paid for at the appropriate rates.