§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 5 May 2004,Official Report, column 1612W, on diagnostic testing, of what types of diagnostic testing his Department is committed to extending the provision within (a) general practitioner surgeries and (b) community pharmacies; and what costs this will incur. [172915]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department is committed to improving access to diagnostic services in primary and community settings to prevent inappropriate hospital visits.
However it is the responsibility of local strategic health authorities and primary care trusts, determined by local needs, to decide which diagnostic services GP surgeries and community pharmacies might provide, and the costs incurred by such services.