§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new services will be provided by fund-holding general practitioners; and if he will publish the proposed remuneration scales.
§ Mr. StewartThe regulations providing for the new services announced by my noble Friend the Minister of State on 26 January are in the process of being compiled. In broad terms they will permit GP fund holders, where appropriate and qualified and with the prior approval of the health board, to be reimbursed from the fund for providing certain specified diagnostic and minor surgical procedures for their own patients. There will be further discussion with health boards and the profession before the details of how the new services will operate are finalised
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioner fund holders he expects there to be in each health board area by January 1994; and how many there are currently in each area.
§ Mr. StewartLatest information from health boards indicates the expected numbers of general practitioner fund holders from January 1994 will be as set out in the table.
164W
Number of GP fund-holders Health board Currently Expected by January 1994 Argyll and Clyde 1 5 Ayrshire and Arran Nil 3 Borders Nil 1
Number of GP fund-holders Health board Currently Expected by January 1994 Dumfries and Galloway Nil Nil Fife Nil 3 Forth Valley Nil 5 Grampian 5 25 Greater Glasgow 2 4 Highland Nil 1 Lanarkshire Nil 14 Lothian 1 7 Orkney Nil Nil Shetland Nil Nil Tayside 1 8 Western Isles Nil Nil Total 10 76