§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the most recent available figures for average general practitioner list sizes; and what steps are being taken to have more up-to-date figures available.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyInformation provided by family practitioner committees (FPCs) in census returns enable the Department to calculate average list sizes.
The average general practitioner list size for England at 1 October 1988 (the latest available) was 1,999.
From 1 April 1990 all family practitioner committees will have computer systems for general practitioner payments. The intention is that the Department's information requirements will be taken directly from these rather than from manual returns as currently.
30WIt is expected that this will lead to more timely submission of data for the 1 October 1990 census and beyond.