GP Fund Holders (Hansard, 12 May 1992)

§ 14. Mr. Robert B. Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices in the Dacorum borough council area are now fund holders.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
I am informed by the chairman of North West Thames regional health authority that there are six GP fundholders in the Dacorum council area.

§ 20. Mr. David Shaw
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many family doctors are interested in managing their own funds from April 1993; what was the comparable number for April 1992; and if she will make a statement.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Just over 3,150 GPs are currently fund holders: a further 3,450 have expressed an interest in joining the scheme from April 1993, which would mean that one in four patients will then enjoy the benefits it brings. This is a massive vote of confidence in the scheme.

§ Mr. Adley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to meet the British Medical Association to discuss practice budgets; and if she will make a statement.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Ministers regularly meet the BMA to discuss matters of mutual interest. We have no specific plans to discuss practice budgets.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she proposes to introduce any upper limit on the collective purchasing power of fund-holding general practitioners in individual health districts.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
No.