§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what services are made available to GPs who are(a) non-fund holding and (b) fund holders.
§ Mr. StewartThe range of services made available by national health service provider units to general practitioners does not vary according to whether or not they are fund holders. Rather than relying on the health board's purchasing arrangements, GP fund holders are able to use their funds to purchase the following hospital and community health services directly from providers:
- —a specified range of elective surgical procedures;
- —most out-patient treatments and diagnostic tests;
- —certain specified direct access services;
and from 1 April 1993:
- —certain community nursing services;
- —additional direct access services;
- —most out patient mental health treatments.
In respect of these services GP fund holders are required to work within their overall fund as approved by the health board, but are otherwise not constrained by any limitation on the funds available to a health board for referrals for these services.
In addition from 1 April 1993 as announced by my noble Friend, the Minister of State on 26 January, GP fund holders, where appropriate and qualified and with the prior approval of the health board, will be able to be reimbursed from their fund for providing certain specific diagnostic and minor surgical procedures for their patients.