§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many calls to doctors' deputising services are made on average in a year; and how many complaints have been made on average each year.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeDuring the period April to June 1983 it is estimated from a special study that about 64,500 night visits were made in England by doctors from commercial deputising services during the hours 11 pm to 7 am. Information on visits outside these hours is not available.
The figures regarding formal complaints that are collected centrally do not distinguish between complaints against GPs and against deputies.
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§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations he has had with the medical bodies involved about his proposals to curtail the use of deputising services by general practitioners; and which bodies he consulted.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe following bodies have received copies of the draft circular:
- General Medical Services Committee
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- British Medical Association
- Joint Consultants' Committee
- Medical Directors' Association
- Society of FPCs
- The Patients' Association
- National Association of Health Authorities in England and Wales
- Association of CHCs in England and Wales
- Society of Administrators of Family Practitioner Services
- Family Practitioner Committees
- District Health Authorities
- Regional Health Authorities
- Community Health Councils
We are also receiving representations from Members of Parliament and members of the public.