§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to establish the impact on confidence in doctor diagnosis by patients, and take-up of preventive screening and immunisation of public awareness of the introduction of financial reward to general practitioners in meeting targets.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNone. We have seen nothing to suggest that awareness of the target payments scheme for cervical cytology and childhood immunisation has affected patient confidence in doctors' clinical diagnosis.
The scheme has been most successful in increasing uptake rates for these services, thereby helping to eliminate avoidable illness. GPs are to be congratulated on their efforts in this area.