§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the terms of reference of(a) the Audit Commission and (b) other bodies involved in the process of replacing the internal market system in the National Health Service with a system of locality commissioning. [19684]
542W
§ Mr. MilburnThe White Paper "The New NHS" (Cm 3807) published earlier today sets out the new roles and responsibilities of health authorities, National Health Service trusts, Primary Care Groups and other bodies in securing quicker, better treatment and care for patients.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives the Government intends to give general practitioners to participate in locality commissioning projects. [19683]
§ Mr. MilburnThe White Paper "The New NHS" (Cm 3807), which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced to the House today, sets out the Government's plans for Primary Care Groups which will bring together general practitioners and community nurses to commission services.
The new arrangements will offer them the opportunity to shape services for their patients. They will have available their population's share of the local resources for hospital and community services, prescribing and the general practice infrastructure, and will have the opportunity to deploy resources and savings to strengthen local services and ensure that patterns of care best reflect their patients' needs. Further details are contained in the White Paper.