HC Deb 17 January 1992 vol 201 cc694-5W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps his Department has taken to investigate the extent to which night-time calls pose a problem for general practitioners in Wales.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

All aspects of the GP contract are kept under continuous review by Health departments. It is for the General Medical Service Committee (GMSC) as the body properly representative of the profession, to raise any specific concerns through the normal negotiating channels. They have not done so on this matter.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what evidence he has regarding variations in night-time calls made to general practitioners in Wales; and if he will provide the figures for each family health services authority area for each of the past five years.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

Requests for night visits reflect patient demand and this will vary between different GP practices. Although a GP is a responsible for his patients 24 hours a day he is nevertheless free to exercise his clinical judgment on deciding whether a night visit is necessary.

The new GP contract which came into effect on 1 April 1990 introduced a two tier night visit fee payable to GPs by their local FHSA. The higher fee (£45) is payable in respect of night visits made by a doctor from the patient's own practice or from a small rota of local GPs. A lower fee of £15 is payable in all other circumstances. Prior to 1 April 1990 a single fee was payable.

The amounts paid to GPs for night visits in each FHSA area in Wales for the last five financial years are as follows:

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

The Department already has a comprehensive non-specific prevention programme as part of its initiative to combat drug misuse through which information about ecstasy will be disseminated.

In respect of the medical profession, health departments have recently published updated guidelines on clinical management of drug misuse and dependence. These are being circulated to every doctor in England, Scotland and Wales. The guidelines include information for doctors on the problems associated with use of ecstasy and similar drugs and recommend a range of treatments for these problems.