HC Deb 14 July 1992 vol 211 cc669-70W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps she has taken to ensure that there is adequate monitoring of general practitioner fund holders by family health service authorities where they provide services other than general medical services including(a) ophthalmology and (b) physiotherapy services; and if she will make a statement;

(2) if she will impose on family health service authorities an obligation to monitor the standards of all services provided by general practitioner fund holders, including services other than primary care; and if she will arrange for the results of such monitoring to be publicly available locally.

Dr. Mawhinney

The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 gave family health service authorities a duty to monitor the expenditure of general practitioner fund holders (for whatever purpose) and to institute audit and review where appropriate. Publication of the outcome is for local decision. Additionally, regional health authorities must ensure compliance with the terms of recognition of a general practitioner as a fund holder, including fund holders' obligation to satisfy themselves that the provider of any service they purchase is competent and has appropriate qualifications, training and experience.