§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to pay general practitioners under the new contract; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyAll general practitioners were paid promptly at the end of the first quarter of 1990–91. Doctors in contract with 75 of the 90 family practitioner committees were paid in full at the end of June either by computer, manual methods or by a combination of the two. The remaining 15 family practitioner committees made an advance payment based on the previous quarter's earnings. All family practitioner committees used either the new quarterly payments software issued earlier this year or made local arrangements based on assessment of entitlement. Family practitioner committees have discretion to make advance payments, so there is no reason why any general practitioner should be in financial difficulties due to the new arrangements. Family practitioner committees are dealing promptly with any queries from general practitioners who believe they have been underpaid.
Statements from the British Medical Association on this subject are seriously misleading. It is nonsense for the British Medical Association to claim that the Government forced through the changes without proper consultation with the profession. Detailed discussions with the British Medical Association's general medical services committee —GMSC—took place over a period of 18 months involving over 100 hours of discussion including meetings with Ministers. Every single detailed change to the general practitioners' terms of service and their statement of fees and allowances was sent to the general medical services committee for its comments and the general medical services committee was given every opportunity to respond.