Ayrshire and Arran Health Board (Hansard, 4 February 1994)

§ Mr. Donohoe
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much it cost Ayrshire and Arran health board to produce and distribute its annual report and financial review 1992–93; and how much it cost the health board to produce its annual review in 1993.

§ Mr. Stewart
It cost Ayrshire and Arran health board £12,111 to produce its 1992–93 annual report and £17,000 to produce its annual review in 1993. The 1992–93 financial review was produced in-house and costs are not separately identifiable. Distribution costs cannot be identified. They constitute mainly internal costs and some postage expenses.
GP Fundholders

§ Mrs. Fyfe
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the distinction he makes in the roles of general practitioner fundholders compared to non-fundholders in respect of NHS priorities and planning guidance for the future of the NHS; and on what specific legislation he bases this distinction.

§ Mr. Stewart
GP fundholders are purchasers of health care and control approximately 20 per cent of the total hospital and community health services budget for the patients on their lists. As such, they are accountable under the National Health Service (Fundholding Practices) (Scotland) Regulations 1993—SI 1993 No. 488—for their purchasing decisions and need to be aware of national priorities and targets which the Government expect purchasers collectively in Scotland—health boards and GP fundholders—to achieve, within the resources it makes available.
Other general practitioners are not accountable in the same way, although the Government have encouraged health boards to involve GPs in planning and in reaching decisions about purchasing care.