§ Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what training general practice fundholders receive on how to handle personnel matters; and what plans his Department has to improve such training. [23044]
§ Mr. MilburnGeneral practitioner fundholders are expected to equip themselves with the skills to perform the full range of their management duties. Regulation 23(7) of the National Health Service (Fund-holding Practices) Regulations 1996 provides for the practice fund management allowance to be used to meet the cost of training members of the practice and their staff.
The White Paper, "The New NHS" (Cmnd 3807) sets out the Government's intention to develop Primary Care Groups which will succeed the GP fundholding scheme and other current purchasing and commissioning arrangements. The training and development needs of Primary Care Groups will need to be kept under review by all concerned as the new arrangements evolve.