§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many night visits were carried out by general practitioners in each of the last five years; and how many night visit claims were submitted by general practitioners in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MaloneThe table shows the number of night visits in each of the last five years, calculated from information held by the Department of Health on the number of night visit fee claims by general practitioners.650W
Financial year Number of visits 1993–94 1,832,456 1992–93 1,585,999 1991–92 1,712,245 1990–91 1,586,960 1989–90 936,148 Note:
In 1989–90, night visit fees were payable for the period from 11 pm to 7 am. From 1990–91, this period was extended to cover 10 pm to 8 am.
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she proposes to issue on the maximum target time before a patient needing emergency care from a general practitioner, should be initially assessed by that general practitioner.
§ Mr. MaloneNone. All general practitioners are bound by their terms of service. It is for GPs to exercise their professional judgment, within these terms of service, as to when a patient needs to be seen.