HC Deb 18 March 1993 vol 221 cc345-6W
Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fund holders in each region have had their fund-holding status withdrawn.

Dr. Mawhinney

One practice in the Trent region has had fund-holding status withdrawn.

Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how frequently the accounts of general practitioner fund-holding practices are checked by(a) the regional health authority and (b) the family health services authority.

Dr. Mawhinney

Each fund-holding unit is required to provide monthly accounts to the family health services authority. Regional health authorities are responsible for monitoring the scheme and request reports as necessary.

Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will introduce into the patients charter a requirement that patients registered with a fund-holding general practitioner are notified as soon as the general practitioner's budget for any element of national health service provision is exhausted.

Dr. Mawhinney

No.

Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of each Audit Commission report on general practitioner fund-holding practices.

Dr. Mawhinney

The auditors appointed by the Audit Commission examine general practitioner fund holders' accounts annually and issue and audit certificate, but have not published any formal audit reports on fund-holding practices.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific conditions are laid down relating to the contractual arrangements between general practitioner fund-holding practices and private health providers wholly or partially owned by partners in the fund-holding practice.

Dr. Mawhinney

These arrangements are governed by the National Health Service (Fundholding Practice) (General) Regulations 1991 and Amendment regulations of 1992. An amendment to these regulations was laid before the House on 10 March 1993, to come into effect on 1 April 1993. This amendment provides that payments from the fund to GP fund holders for providing services other than general medical services to patients of their practice, will be made directly to the medical practitioner who provides the services or to the partnership of which he is a member, rather than through a third party such as a limited company.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations or guidelines she has issued regarding the circumstances in which, and the grounds on which, regional health authorities may remove recognition from members of a fund-holding practice.

Dr. Mawhinney

The circumstances in and grounds on which a regional health authority may remove recognition from a fund-holding practice are set out in the General Practitioner Fundholding General Regulations, 1991.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued to regional health authorities concerning the supervision and monitoring of general practitioner fund-holding practices with regard to the quality of service and financial management.

Dr. Mawhinney

The following guidance has been issued:

  • Management Allowance, EL(90)P84.
  • GP Fundholding: Financial Matters, EL(91)36.
  • Joint Guidance to Hospital Consultants on GP Fundholding, EL(91)84.
  • Contracting for 1992–93: Involvement of GPs (including GP Fundholders), EL(91)120.
  • The Patient's Charter: monitoring and publishing information on performance, HSG(92)36.
  • GPFHs Public Availability of Contracts, EL(92)68.
  • GPFH: Guidance on setting budgets for 1993–94, EL(92)83.
  • The Manual of Accounts.
  • Copies are available in the Library.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training her Department and regional health authorities provide to members of general practitioner fund-holding practices to help them effectively manage their budgets.

Dr. Mawhinney

Training is a matter for regional health authorities who provide training to reflect local needs.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued in respect of general practitioner fund-holders buying services from members of their own family; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

The National Health Service (Fund-holding Practices) (General) Regulations 1991, issued at the commencement of the GP fund-holding scheme, provide that regional health authority consent is required where a fund holder proposes to purchase services from a family member.