HC Deb 27 October 1997 vol 299 cc761-2W
Dr. Brand

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the outcomes of the appeals process for fundholder budget allocations for the past five years by regional office, showing how many appeals found in favour of(a) GP fundholders and (b) regional offices for each area. [12486]

Mr. Milburn

When a fundholding practice receives its proposed budget offer for the coming year, the regulations require it to notify the health authority whether or not it accepts the offer. Although this is not a formal appeals process established by regulations, in practice most rejections are treated as appeals by regional offices. Similar procedures were followed before April 1996, when regional health authorities were responsible for budget offers.

Information is available on the results of such "appeals" in respect of budget proposals for 1996–97 and 1997–98. A table summarising this information is as follows.

align="center">Summary of representations on GPFH/Regional Office budget allocations 1996–97–1997–98
1996–97 Principally in favour of 1997–98 Principally in favour of
GPFH RO GPFH RO
Northern and Yorkshire 2 8 10 31
Trent — — — —
Anglia and Oxford — 1 1 7
West Midlands 1 1 2 3
South and West 1 11 8 16
North Thames 3 6 1 1
South Thames 5 27 1 38
North West — — — 2
Total 12 54 23 98

These figures are not strictly comparable between regions due to different methods of dealing with likely problems in the setting of budgets. Some regions have a policy of addressing differences between the policy of the health authority and the fundholder to resolve disputes before a formal offer is made. In addition where a multifund (where a larger number of fundholders join together to apply the budget) have appealed en-masse, this might be counted as one appeal, or as individual appeals.

Often an appeal has no definite resolution for either side—elements of both arguments my be accepted, and the decision does not, in reality, come down one way or another. However, where a decision by the RO has been largely in favour of the GPFH this is reflected in the table.

Source:

NHS Executive Regional Offices