§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the cost of an average GP consultation in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99; and what is the forecast cost for 1999–2000 [89058]
(2) how many general practitioner consultations took place in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99; and what number is forecast for 1999–2000 [89059]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 29 June 1999]: The information is not available in the form requested. The latest information collected (and published as figure 4.18 in the Departmental Report for 1999–2000) relates to 1996–97 when there were estimated to be 270.97 million consultations with general practitioners. These data were based on the General Household Survey and may overestimate the number of consultations.