§ 13. Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternatives to general practice fund-holding her Department has costed.
§ Dr. MawhinneyAll general practitioner practices should be involved in purchasing decisions through their district health authorities, but this is no substitute for fundholding which enables GPs to improve services for their patients by directly managing resources. That is why ever-increasing numbers of GPs are joining the scheme.
§ 26. Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population of Derbyshire is covered by fund-holding doctors' practices.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe information requested is not available centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Sir Michael Carlisle, chairman of Trent regional health authority, for details.