HC Deb 20 February 1990 vol 167 cc714-5W
61. Mr. Knapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners are employed in the National Health Service at present; and what was the figure in 1979.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ipswich (Mr. Irvine) on 23 January at column678.

Mr. Thornton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will outline the mechanism by which family practitioner committees will be allocated moneys to pay general practitioners for conducting health screening and promotion clinics under the new general practitioner contract; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if the moneys allocated for family practitioner committees to pay general practitioners for conducting health screening and promotion clinics under the new general practitioner contract will be sufficient to cover clinics in addition to those specifically mentioned in the contract;

(3) if the moneys allocated for family practitioner committees to pay general practitioners for conducting health screening and promotion clinics under the new general practitioner contract will be a separately devoted budget.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

General medical practitioners will from 1 April 1990 be able to claim fees under the statement of fees and allowances (a copy is in the Library) for providing health promotion clinics. Family practitioner committees have discretion under paragraph 30.2 of the statement to decide which clinics qualify for payment. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supply estimates, claims which are accepted for payment will be met from a non-cash limited vote incorporating provision for the general medical services. Individual FPCs will not be allocated separate budgets for such fees.

Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make a statement on the benefits of the new general practitioner contract for elderly people.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The new GPs' contract to be introduced with effect from 1 April, is to be more performance-related than the present arrangements. GPs are encouraged to meet the needs of particular patient groups. Elderly patients will benefit from these new arrangements. The annual payment to a doctor for each patient over 75 on his list will increase from 1 January 1991 to £31.45. This illustrates the importance the Government attach to the care of these patients. This compares with a payment of £12.40 for those under 65. Family doctors will offer an annual check-up and a home visit to those over 75 with a view to maintaining the quality of life as far as possible.

77. Mr. Andrew Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to make it easier for elderly people to be accepted on to a general practitioner's list.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The procedure for registering with a family doctor is unchanged; it involves the individual patient asking if the doctor will accept him or her as a patient. We have, however, made it easier for people of all ages to change doctors if they wish. In recognition of the additional care and attention that elderly patients sometimes require, the capitation fee for patients aged 65 and over and aged 75 and over are higher than the standard fee for those aged under 65. Under the new contract the capitation fee for the over-75s is to be increased considerably and will be some 2.5 times the fee for the under 65s.

From 1 January 1991 the capitation fee for those over 75 will be £31.45. For those under 65 it will be £12.40.