HC Deb 25 March 1991 vol 188 cc319-20W
Mr. Michael Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards there are for general practitioners who submit claims for cash-limited budgets in good time where the FHSAs are unable to process payments before the end of the financial year.

Mr. Dorrell

Reimbursements from family health services authorities (FHSAs) cash limited budgets for practice staff and premises improvements are made quarterly in arrears although advances equal to an estimated 30 per cent. of the total due are made each month. The full entitlement, less the advance on account, is then paid during the first month of the quarter following that to which the reimbursement relates. The effect is that approximately 10 per cent. of reimbursements due for the final quarter of each financial year are actually paid during the first month of the following financial year. FHSAs should not commit themselves to making payments For practice staff and premises improvements to a value greater than the cash limit available for the year.