§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on surgical provision in individual hospitals of general practitioner fundholders switching moneys from hospital to hospital.
§ Mr. MaloneThe precise pattern of care to meet patients' needs in a particular locality is agreed in contracts between national health service purchasers— health authorities and fundholding general practitioners— and hospitals. Fundholding general practitioners, like health authorities, are expected to provide six months' notice of their intention to make significant changes to their contracts.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has given to ensure that a loss of general practitioner fundholders' money for non-emergency surgery in hospitals does not lead to a reduction of emergency services for the same fundholder.
§ Mr. MaloneNone.
District health authorities are responsible for purchasing emergency services for the patients of both fundholding and non-fundholding general practitioners. It is for purchasers and hospitals to agree contracts which best meet patients' needs.