§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about GPs redirecting out-of-hours calls to the local hospital; and if he will make a statement. [86376]
§ Mr. DenhamWe are not aware of any general representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the redirection of general practitioners out-of-hours calls to local hospitals.
GPs may make arrangements with any organisation to provide out-of-hours primary care services on their behalf but they must satisfy themselves that the service provided
Country Public healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP Total healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP Public healthcare expenditure ($ per capita) Total healthcare expenditure ($ per capita) Australia 5.9 8.5 1,220 1,775 Austria 5.7 8.0 1,258 1,748 Belgium 6.8 7.8 1,498 1,708 Canada 6.7 9.6 1,440 2,065 Czech Republic 6.6 7.2 836 904 Denmark 5.2 8.0 1,175 1,802 Finland 5.8 7.4 1,082 1,380 France 7.8 9.7 1,599 1,983 Germany 8.2 10.5 1,783 2,278 Greece 5.2 6.8 688 888 Hungary 4.7 6.7 417 602 Iceland 6.8 8.2 1,582 1,893 Ireland 5.2 7.0 947 1,276 Italy 5.5 7.8 1,106 1,584 Japan 5.7 7.2 1,321 1,677 Korea 2.1 4.0 282 537 Luxembourg 6.2 6.8 1,980 2,139 Mexico 2.7 4.6 212 358 Netherlands 6.2 8.6 1,273 1,766 New Zealand 5.6 7.3 974 1,270 Norway 6.5 7.9 1,591 1,928 Poland 4.6 5.0 344 371 Portugal 4.9 8.3 641 1,071 Spain 5.8 7.4 878 1115 Sweden 7.2 8.6 1,389 1,675 Switzerland 7.1 10.2 1,748 2,499 Turkey 2.7 3.8 165 232 United Kingdom 5.8 6.9 1,113 1,317 United States 6.5 14.0 1,819 3,898 Source:
OECD Health Databank 1998
112Wis adequate and appropriate for their patients. They must ensure that any deputising arrangements which they have chosen continue to meet those standards.
Decisions on whether to refer a patient for secondary care outside surgery hours will be based on clinical need—the same as for referrals which are made after a consultation during surgery hours.