§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has taken to prevent GP practices removing children not immunised against MMR from their practice list. [99179]
§ Mr. HuttonGeneral practitioners should not remove patients from their lists in these circumstances. The General Medical Council has issued guidance—"Duties of a Doctor— Good Medical Practice", which makes it clear that patients should not be removed because of the financial impact of their care or treatment on the practice.
The Department fully supports that advice. The proposed new general medical services contract which was announced on 21 February is intended not only to provide for a consistently high quality service to patients but also to avoid perverse incentives such as any which might encourage removal of patients from practice lists other than for good reason.