HC Deb 03 July 1997 vol 297 cc227-8W
Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many home visits were made by general practitioners during each of the last three years in the United Kingdom. [5478]

Mr. Milburn

The information requested is not available on a United Kingdom basis. However, sample information is available within the General Household Survey (conducted by the Office for National Statistics), which gives the proportion of National Health Service general practitioner consultations within Great Britain. In the last three years for which information is available—1993, 1994, and 1995—the proportion of NHS GP consultations at patients' homes as a percentage of total NHS GP consultations was 9 per cent., 10 per cent. and 9 per cent. respectively. Copies of the report on the 1995 General Household Survey—entitled "Living in Britain"—are available in the Library.

However, the Government are considering how the delivery of digital services to viewers (through whatever technical means) might be expedited and extended.