§ Mr. Burns:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the exclusion of sexually transmitted infections from the new general practitioner contract; whether all GPs will (a) examine and (b) treat patients suffering from a sexually transmitted infection; and if he will make a statement. [140696]
§ Mr. Hutton:No disease is excluded under the new general medical services contract. All practices will provide essential services, which provide for the management and on-going treatment and care of patients who are ill, or believe themselves to be ill. Practices will continue to offer consultations and, where appropriate, physical examination for the purpose of identifying the need, if any, for treatment or further investigation.
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