HC Deb 09 May 1989 vol 152 cc388-9W
Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what effect paragraph 6.9 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on people with HIV infection seeking primary care from other Health Service sources such as GUM clinics, while remaining registered with a general practitioner;

(2) if he will make a statement on how paragraph 4.25 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will affect the application by person with AIDS for a referral to a centre other than the one with which the district health authority has a contract;

(3) if he will make a statement on how paragraph 7.15 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will affect the ability of general practitioners to use their drug budgets to pay for patients with HIV-related diseases;

(4) how paragraph 4.8 of "Working For Patients" will affect the additional costs of treating AIDS patients;

(5) if he will make a statement on the effect paragraph 6.5 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on the budgeting of practice staff costs for HIV and AIDS counselling services;

(6) if he will make a statement on the effect paragraph 6.4 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on general practitioners dealing with people with AIDS;

(7) if he will make a statement on the effect paragraph 4.15 of "Working For Patients" will have on the designation of AIDS care as a core service;

(8) if he will make a statement as to the application of paragraph 4.17 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) to the care of AIDS patients;

(9) if he will make a statement as to the effect of paragraph 2.13 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) on the training of receptionists in relation to people with HIV and AIDS;

(10) how paragraph 4.30 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will affect staff training and improved methods of care for people with AIDS where general hospital services are provided through National Health Service hospital trusts or private hospitals outside the control of health authorities;

(11) whether he will make a statement as to the effect of paragraph 2.8 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) on key HIV and AIDS care services;

(12) if he will make a statement as to the effect the renegotiating of services outlined in paragraph 4.13 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555) will have on the ability of people with AIDS to develop a relationship of trust and understanding with a particular centre.

Mr. Mellor

The aims of the proposals in "Working for Patients" are to improve services for patients, to extend patient choice, to delegate responsibility to where the services are provided, and to secure the best value for money. The aim of the implementation work now in hand is to ensure that the arrangements introduced meet the needs of all patients, including people with AIDS and HIV infection. That work includes detailed consideration of the account needing to be taken of HIV morbidity in deciding resource allocations; contractual arrangements to cover services which hospitals provide for people who have not been referred by their GPs; the account needing to be taken of the health needs of people with AIDS and other chronic illnesses in determining GPs' practice and prescribing budgets; and arrangements for the education and training of NHS staff and general practitioners in HIV-related matters.