§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has issued on the parity of access to hospital treatment for non-emergency surgery and procedures between fund holding general practitioners and non-fund holding general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThe National Health Service Management Executive for England and the joint consultants committee of the British Medical Association has issued guidance on general practitioner fund holding on EL(91)84. This sets out the criteria for acceptable contracts to be agreed between general practitioner fund 887W holders and all national health service hospitals. It clearly states that hospitals should not offer contracts to fund holders which would disadvantage patients of other purchasers. This guidance has been issued to general practitioner fund holders in Wales.