HC Deb 20 March 1990 vol 169 c551W
38. Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from general practitioners and the British Medical Association on effects on general practitioner services arising from contractual charges in general practitioner conditions of service.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

There have been some 4,000 letters concerned with the general practitioners' new contract. No accurate breakdown of this total can be provided, but most of these representations have been made by general practitioners.

73. Rev. Martin Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to revise the general practitioner contract in the light of representations he has received from doctors and patients regarding the cost of long-term care.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

We received no representations dealing directly with the effect of the general practitioners' new contract on the cost of long-term care. However, if the hon. Member has in mind the supply of medicines to patients under the general medical and pharmaceutical services, I can assure him that prescribing budgets will not prevent general practitioners prescribing all the medicines needed by their patients, including those requiring long-term care.

93. Mr. Jessel

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the new general practitioner contract on services will affect patients.

142. Mr. Andy Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effects the new general practitioners' contract will have on services to patients.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The general practitioners' new contract will promote higher standards, a wider range of services and more choice for patients in the family doctor services. Specific changes which will improve services include regular check-ups, particularly for children and people aged 75 and over, greater emphasis on preventative care such as childhood immunisation and screening for cancer of the cervix, more health promotion clinics, more minor surgery in the general practitioner's premises to save patients having to attend hospital and the extension of practice teams to include the services of counsellors, chiropodists, physiotherapists and other health professionals.