§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money Ayrshire and Arran health board spent launching, publishing, promoting and distributing its "Charter for Health"; and how much money Ayrshire and Arran health board is spending on the newly created post of consumer feedback manager.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1994]: The cost to Ayrshire and Arran health board of the relaunch of its "Charter for Health" was just over £7,000. The post of consumer feedback manager has been in existence for two years. The actual salary involved is a matter between the board and the individual concerned.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money Ayrshire and Arran health board is spending on promoting general practitioner fundholding within the local area; and what remuneration it is paying to the general practitioner appointed to promote general practitioner fundholding within its area.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1994]: The costs to Ayrshire and Arran health board, in line with other boards, of promoting general practitioner fundholding are largely indirect costs and are not separately identifiable within the overall health board expenditure.
Number of proposals/appeals and their progress(i) Position at November 1993 Position at March 1994 Region Number of proposals/appeals lodged Number settled Number where list adjusted/appeal allowed Average time from date of lodgement to date of settlement (ii) Number of proposals/appeals lodged Number settled Number where list adjusted/appeal allowed Average time from date of lodgement to date of settlement (ii) Number Months Number Months Borders 2,996 254 217 4 3,057 685 522 8 Central 2,719 422 378 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a Dumfries and Galloway 3,048 1,077 803 3 3,136 1,860 1,251 4 Fife 6,411 3,136 1,854 5 6,542 4,606 2,722 5 Grampian 11,221 3,956 2,788 5 11,423 6,282 4,231 6 Highland 5,991 1,470 931 4 6,093 3,556 2,327 6 Lothian 11,739 2,077 1,422 6 12,866 5,961 3,956 7 Strathclyde 39,463 15,606 12,498 3 40,252 23,358 17,828 4 Tayside 11,171 1,113 986 5 11,364 3,261 2,693 6 Orkney 211 166 101 3 215 211 120 3 Shetland 159 114 95 2 174 154 108 3 Western Isles 837 227 125 5 865 513 283 7 Scotland 95,966 29,618 22,198 4 — — — — Source: Information supplied by Assessors in regular statistical returns.
682WThe general practitioner appointed by Ayrshire and Arran health board to promote general practitioner fundholding in its area is being remunerated for two sessions a month, until March 1995, at £86 per session. This is a standard rate for general practitioners employed on specific projects by the health board as agreed with the British Medical Association.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement indicating what assessment he has made of the general practitioner fundholding system operating throughout the Ayrshire and Arran health board area.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 5 May 1994]: Currently there are four fundholding practices operating within the board area. These practices are using the scheme to improve the health care and range of services available to patients. Participation in the GP fundholding scheme by GP practices is voluntary.