§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research she has commissioned to evaluate general practitioner fundholding against joint commissioning; [25920]
(2) what evidence she has evaluated to the effect that general practitioner fundholding is more cost effective than joint commissioning. [25921]
§ Mr. MaloneAs independent studies have shown, general practitioner fundholding has been a major success since 1991 in improving services for patients. Over 41 per cent, of the population is now registered with a fundholding GP. Joint commissioning is a subsequent development which involves both fundholding and non-fundholding general practitioners working in partnership with health authorities to plan and purchase services. We will be developing our research programme to assess these developments, including the full evaluation of the 51 total purchasing sites, over the coming months.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fundholding practices per family health service authority are currently in dispute, arbitration or subject to appeal over one or more of their budgets; and if she will make a statement. [25932]
§ Mr. MaloneThis information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many first, second, third and fourth wave fundholders have since left the scheme. [26199]
§ Mr. MaloneThis information is not available centrally. Indications are that the small number of fundholders who have left the scheme have done so largely because of changes in the practice partnership.