§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the primary care trusts which have been classified as being in under-doctored areas on the basis of the number of general practitioner principals, or equivalents, per weighted head of the population; what funding is being targeted at these primary care trusts in order to aid general practitioner recruitment; and if he will make a statement. [89828]
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§ Mr. HuttonA list of the primary care trusts which have been classified as under-doctored areas have been placed in the Library. The following strategic health authorities have no PCTs with under-doctored areas:
- North Central London
- North West London
- Avon Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
- South West Peninsula
- Thames Valley.
The average PCT budget will grow over the next three years by 30.8 per cent. No PCT will receive an increase in funding over the next three years of less than 28 per cent. None of the growth money has been identified for specific purposes. PCTs will be able to use these extra resources to deliver on both national and local priorities.
The Department has a series of measures to enhance general practitioner recruitment and retention. These include 'golden hello' payments, a returners campaign, a flexible career scheme, a retainers scheme, international recruitment and delayed retirement payments.
In the 50 per cent. of PCTs with the lowest numbers of GPs per 100,000 weighted population, 'golden hello' payments of up to £12,000 are available rather than a maximum of £5,000 for other areas.
To date, 1,988 GPs have received a 'golden hello' payment, 993 of which by GPs taking up posts in under-doctored areas.
§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the funding allocated to primary care trusts for 2003–04 according to their distance from target funding.[90953]
§ Mr. HuttonPrimary care trust revenue allocations for 2003–04, ranked by their distances from targets as determined by the weighted capitation formula, have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. ChallenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to primary care trusts on their freedom to use private contractors as suppliers in the provision of health services. [91353]
§ Mr. HuttonHealth Service Circular 2000/007, "Securing Service Delivery: Commissioning Freedoms of Primary Care Trusts", issued in April 2002, made clear that primary care trusts should feel free to commission care from wherever they can obtain the best services for patients. Commissioning decisions should be judged against the twin tests of high clinical standards and good value for money.