§ Ms JowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health further to the recent executive letter issued to trusts and health authorities, what plans he has for reducing the transaction costs relating to secondary and tertiary extra-contractual referrals. [5377]
§ Mr. HoramThe executive letters issued in July (EL(96)56 and November (EL(96)94) announced significant deregulation measures to reduce transaction costs while retaining clinicians' freedom of referral. Health authorities and general practitioners will implement the changes by harmonising their referral preferences, minimising the need for extra-contractual referrals. Officials will be disseminating examples of good practice to aid implementation.