HC Deb 30 June 1998 vol 315 cc166-7W
21. Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will ensure GPs and other members of the primary health care team are fully involved in the development of primary care groups. [46622]

Mr. Milburn

Once Primary Care Groups have been developed, general practitioners and nurses will be in the driving seat as signalled in the White Paper.

We also expect GPs and others to have a say in the configuration of Primary Care Groups. Health authorities must provide evidence of support for the proposed configuration, and we are instructing the National Health Service Executive Regional Offices to ensure that health authorities explicitly provide evidence of the Local Medical Committee view on proposals.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to protect general practitioners within the new primary care groups from losing their resources in the event of a hospital budget overspend. [47098]

Mr. Milburn

We will ensure that the level of investment in primary care infrastructure within health authorities' unified budgets will be maintained and uplifted for inflation.

At Primary Care Group level, through the mechanism of the new primary care investment plans, the level of resources available for staff and computer maintenance will be maintained at current spending levels, uplifted for inflation. Alongside this guarantee and the current statement of fees and allowances protection, a one-year period of notice for change on these items at practice level is to be established.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has taken into account the special needs of rural areas when setting the funding levels for the new primary care groups. [47099]

Mr. Milburn

There will be a national weighted capitation formula to set target fair shares for the new Primary Care Groups (PCGs). It will be for health authorities to determine how quickly individual PCGs are moved from their starting point to their fair share.

The health care needs of populations, both rural and urban, will be the driving force in determining where cash goes.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the ability of primary care groups to decide on treatment for a particular condition. [47097]

Mr. Milburn

The ability to offer patients the individual care they require has been and remains the cornerstone of general practice. Patients will continue to be guaranteed the drugs, investigations and treatments they need. The freedom to refer and prescribe remains unchanged.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proposed new primary care groups of general practitioners. [47100]

Mr. Milburn

Primary Care Groups offer an historic opportunity for primary care professionals to be in the driving seat in shaping and improving health services locally.