HC Deb 02 July 1993 vol 227 cc643-4W
Mr. Stern

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 12 May,Official Report, column 483, if she will now announce the results of the working group on the financing of health centres, and her proposals based on those results.

Dr. Mawhinney

The working group of National Health Service Management Executive/national health service officials recommended that the main proposals of the Hambros bank review on the financing of accommodation for general practitioners in health centres should be accepted. These proposals were:

  1. (i) The relationship between the GP tenant and the trust/district health authority owner should be put onto a more commercial footing, in which the GP would pay a full commercial rent in return for a formal lease;
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  2. (ii) GPs in health centres should be eligible for General Medical Services improvement grants;
  3. (iii) Guidance should be issued on the costs and benefits of various alternative patterns of funding and ownership of GP accommodation;

We have accepted the recommendations of the working group and work will be taken forward with a view to implementing the Hambros bank proposals with effect from 1 April 1994. Representatives of general medical practitioners will be consulted about the implementation.

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