HC Deb 23 January 2002 vol 378 cc954-5W
Mrs. Dean

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) ambulances and (b) paramedics there were per 1000 population in (i) Staffordshire, (ii) other similar authorities and (iii) England, in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [24074]

Ms Blears

Information on the number of ambulance vehicles in each ambulance service, health authority and nationally is not collected. Information on the number of paramedics per 1,000 per population is shown in the table.

his intention to impose a ban on such a general practitioner's right to practise without regard to the reasons for that imprisonment. [23822]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 19 December 2001]: The regulations provide that the removal of a doctor from, or the refusal to admit a doctor to, a medical or supplementary list after a criminal conviction and a sentence of more than six months imprisonment will be automatic. These regulations were introduced after consultation with the British Medical Association.

Our legal system provides that the most serious criminal offences are to be dealt with by a Crown court and those less serious offences by a magistrates court. The threshold laid down in these regulations reflects the respective responsibilities of these courts, in that only a Crown court may impose a custodial sentence of more than six months following a conviction. Given that a magistrates court may not impose such a sentence, our view is that anyone who receives such a sentence, in relation to obviously serious offences, is unsuitable to work in the national health service as a general medical practitioner.

Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason general practitioners who are on contracts do not receive a(a) full golden hello and (b) sum proportional to their contract or hours worked. [24599]

Mr. Hutton

Golden hello payments are intended to encourage doctors to become and remain national health service general practitioners. New GPs who work exclusively as locums, hold fixed term contracts of two years or less or who have a commitment of less than 25 per cent, do not therefore qualify for a payment until they take on a substantive post with at least 25 per cent, time commitment and a longer contract.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time to see a GP in Greater London; and what the equivalent figure was in 1997. [24645]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 8 January 2002]: From September 2001 data are being collected quarterly on the lead time for the first available appointment with each general practitioner practice. From the September 2001 survey, results showed that within the London region, 72 per cent, of practices, with appointment systems in place, could offer a patient an appointment with a GP within two working days. 90 per cent, of practices had an appointment system in place to see a GP.