HL Deb 02 April 2003 vol 646 cc129-30WA
Lord Clement-Jones

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the legal or contractual basis for National Health Service general practitioners with the consent of their primary care trust entering into a reciprocal arrangement whereby they will not take on any patient from within their area who wishes to change general practitioners; and [HL2225]

How many reciprocal arrangements exist within primary care trusts in England under which general practitioners, with the consent of their primary care trust, agree not to take on any patient from within their area who wishes to change general practitioners. [HL2257]

Baroness Andrews

There is no basis in the National Health Service (Choice of Practitioner) Regulations 1998, the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 or the equivalent provisions which apply to general practitioners (GP) working within personal medical services for a GP to enter a reciprocal agreement with another GP to refuse to accept one another's patients or for a primary care trust to consent to such an arrangement. Accordingly, the Department of Health does not hold or collect data on any such arrangements.