HC Deb 27 October 1993 vol 230 cc693-4W
Dame Jill Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the increases in remuneration of all contractors within the national health service for the year 1993–94, indicating any increases in pay and expenses in money and percentage terms.

Dr. Mawhinney

The increases in remuneration of national health service contractors in 1993–94 are as followsGeneral Medical Practitioners: The intended average net income of general practitioners increased by £600 or 1.5 per cent. In addition, the level of practice expenses incorporated into fees and allowances increased by £2,190 or 11 per cent. Fees and allowances payable to GPs increased by an average of 3.3 per cent. as a result of these changes. General Dental Practitioners: The target net income of general dental practitioners increased by £537 or 1.5 per cent. In addition the practice expense of GDPs increased by £1,481 or 3.0 per cent. The average increase in pay and allowances payable to GDPs was 242 per cent. Pharmacists: Pharmacists' remuneration is contained within a global sum out of which all fees and allowances are paid. There is no separate element for expenses. In 1993–94, the global sum for England was increased by 1.5 per cent. to £596 million. Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners: The NHS sight test fee paid to OMPs increased to £1015. This included an increase of 11 pence or 1.5 per cent. in the pay element and 7 pence or 2.75 per cent. in the expenses element of the fee. Optometrists: No agreement has yet been reached with representatives of the optometric profession about the level of sight test fee for 1993–94.