§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discretion GPs will have to refer patients as they wish when ECRs are abolished; and what will be the source of funding of referrals not covered by contracts. [28891]
§ Mr. MilburnUnder the proposals set out in the White Paper, "The new NHS", all but a small minority of general practitioner referrals to hospitals should be covered either by long term agreements reflecting the views of all local GPs or by the new high level commissioning arrangements for specialist services. The new system will continue to allow for instances where a patient's special clinical needs or personal services require a GP to make individualised arrangements, but will eliminate the bureaucracy of the current system of extra-contractual referrals.
The Government's proposals for funding patient treatment currently covered by extra-contractual referral invoicing are set out in paragraphs 9.16 and 9.17 of the White Paper, "The New NHS". Copies have been placed in the Library.
More detailed advice will be issued by summer 1998.