§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when she expects to publish the formula for the proposed national capitation scheme;
(2) what factors are being considered for the formula of the proposed national capitation scheme.
§ Mr. SackvilleI refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health,Official Report, 21 October at column 573. The results of the review of weighted capitation are included in the guidance 398W referred to in the statement. Copies of the guidance, FDL(94)68, are available in the Library.
The result of the review of weighted capitation is a modified formula which takes account of new information and better statistical techniques. The three basic elements of the formula, ie age, need and cost, remain the same but each element has been updated and refined. Further details of the modified formula have been published in the form of a booklet entitled "Hospital and Community Health Services. Revenue Resource Allocation: Weighted Capitation Formula", and copies of this are also available in the Library.