Written question asked by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 January 1997. It was answered by Lord Horam (Conservative) on Wednesday, 22 January 1997 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: What account he takes of rurality when calculating funding for hospital and community health services and for general medical services.

Answer: Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he takes of rurality when calculating funding for hospital and community health services and for general medical services. [12010] Mr. Horam: The analytical work on which the hospital and community health service formula is based considered both population density and the proportion of population living in urban areas as drivers of need that are relevant to rural areas. None of these factors proved to be statistically significant enough to feature in the formula. However, rurality may be a factor in the cost of providing services, particularly community health and ambulance services, and invitations to tender for appropriate research have been issued. General practitioners' remuneration includes specific fees to recognise the costs and pressures of practice in rural areas.

Secondary information