Out-of-Hours Services

HC Deb 19 April 2004 vol 420 cc214-5W

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to inform the public of the changes to out-of-hours services when the new general practitioner contract comes into effect on 1 April. [162260]

Mr. Hutton

From 1 April 2004, general practitioner practices will be able to opt-out of responsibility for out-of-hours services, with the approval of their local primary care trust (PCT). From 1 January 2005, they will have a right to opt-out in all but exceptional circumstances.

Where practices opt-out, it will be for PCTs to put in place alternative service for patients. It will therefore be for PCTs and practices to inform patients of changes as and when they occur. The Department is providing materials to help PCTs do that and has also briefed a number of national organisations representing patients.