Written question asked by Duke of Montrose (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Monday, 22 November 2010.
NHS: Funding
- Question
- To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State, Simon Burns, on 18 October (HC Deb, col 574W) on the provision of NHS funding in sparsely populated rural areas, how the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation expect the extra fuel costs for doctors and nursing staff visiting patients who are separated by long distances to be met.
- Answer
-
National Health Service revenue allocations are currently made to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of a national weighted capitation formula. The formula is overseen by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA). Once allocated, it is for PCTs to use the funding to commission the services they require to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account of both local and national priorities. PCTs pay general practitioners (GPs) working under the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract an amount based on the GP Funding Allocation formula, which includes an adjustment for rurality. It is intended to reflect the additional costs associated with the degree to which the area served is rural. The adjustment is based on a combination of the average distance of patient postcodes from the GP practice main surgery postcode, and the average population density index values for all patients on the GP practice list. ACRA has been asked by the present Secretary of State for Health to look again at the impact of rurality on unavoidable differences on costs in England, as part of its future work programme. ACRA is an independent expert body that currently oversees, and advises the Secretary of State upon, the development of the PCT revenue allocation funding formula. Membership of the Committee includes individuals with relevant experience and expertise from within, and outside, the NHS. There is a balance of economists, statisticians, academics, GPs, public health professionals and NHS managers.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 3841; 722 c281WA
- Session
- 2010-12
- Related items
- Subjects
- Costs Doctors Health services Finance Nurses Travel Rural areas Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation
- Link
- View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2013-11-20 03:08:05 +0000
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