§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has to ensure that children whose parents refuse to have them immunised are registered with local GP practices; [18621]
(2) if he will make a statement on the number of GPs in Wales refusing to register children whose parents choose not to have them immunised. [18622]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsEvery patient has a right to be registered with a GP. Health Authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure that patients resident in their administrative area have adequate access to general medical services. Health Authorities have the power to allocate patients to GPs in exceptional circumstances where no GP is willing to take them on.
Information on the number of GPs refusing to register children whose parents choose not to have them immunised is not available. This is because GPS are not obliged to give their reasons for refusing to register patients or to notify their Health Authority of the overall number involved. However, information relating to number of patients removed from GPs' lists is collected. Reasons for removal vary and include an act or threat of violence against a GP, a breakdown in the GP/patient relationship and patients themselves requesting a transfer to another GP. In 1995–96, 2,913 patients were removed from GP lists in Wales (out of a total patient registration of nearly 3 million). A breakdown of this figure is 580W attached. The General Medical Council has signalled clearly that it is unprofessional for any GP to discriminate against patients.
Patients removed from GP lists—1995–96 Number Patients transferred at their own request 35 Patients transferred at the request of a GP 2,830 Patients removed from a GP's list because of an act or threat of violence 48 Total 2,913