HC Deb 16 July 1990 vol 176 c410W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to health authorities about the extent to which established cross-boundary flows of patients should be reflected in the contractual arrangements which will apply to non-budget holding general practices.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

"Contracts for Health Services: Operating Principles" and "Contracts for Health Services: Operating Contracts", copies of which are available in the Library, give guidance to health authorities on all major contract issues. District health authorities will be expected to let contracts which secure the referral patterns their local general practitioners prefer whether they be inside or outside their district's boundary, unless there are compelling reasons for not doing so.