House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 01 Nov 2006 (pt 0015)

Consultation Costs

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the average cost of a consultation at a (a) general practitioner surgery, (b) minor injuries unit, (c) walk-in centre and (d) accident and emergency department. [92036]

Andy Burnham: The Department does not collect the costs and volumes of general practitioner (GP) activity levels.

The following table shows data for national average reported costs for attendances at:

minor injuries unit (MIU);

walk in centres, first and follow up; and

accident and emergency (A and E) department.

1 Nov 2006 : Column 485W

Reference costs code	A and E services	National average unit cost (£)
V100MI	Discrete MIU (3)	37
V100WIFA	Walk in centres (first attendance only)	27
V01-V08	24-hour A and E department (4)	87
V100MC	Non-24-hour A and E department/casualty department	32
Notes: 1. Figures are for 2004-05, as reported by NHS providers in the 2004-05 reference cost collection. 2 Reference costs data for these services are reported on a full absorption costing basis per attendance and so include both direct costs, e.g. staff costs, and indirect costs, e.g. overheads. 3. Data for MIU are for discrete units only. Where a MIU forms part of the 24-hour A and E department, the costs and activity are reported as part of the 24-hour A and E department. 4. Data for 24-hour A and E department is the weighted average unit cost for all 24-hour A and E department activity. This includes the cost of patients who are dead on arrival.

Health Services (Cornwall)

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that funding for health services in Cornwall better reflects the rurality factor. [94275]

Andy Burnham: Revenue allocations are made to primary care trusts (PCTs) on a weighted-capitation formula that directs funding towards areas of greatest need.

The allocation formula introduced in 2003-04, and used in the 2006-08 allocations, provides the best available measure of health need in all areas. In calculating health need in rural areas it takes account of the effects of access, transport and poverty.

The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) continuously oversees the development of the weighted-capitation formula. ACRA is an independent body made up of national health service managers, academics and general practitioners. ACRA has looked at the issue of rurality on many occasions, and its current work programme, post 2007-08, includes looking again at the issues faced by rural areas.

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated for (a) diabetes, (b) cardiac conditions, (c) obesity and (d) respiratory conditions in each municipal ward of the borough of Thurrock in the last 12 months. [97015]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which wards in the Borough of Thurrock have single GP practices. [97016]

Caroline Flint: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the table shows the location of Single Handed GPs in Thurrock as at 30 September 2005 which is the latest data available.

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Single handed GP Partnerships for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2005
PCT	Practice Code	Address			Post Code
5GQ	Thurrock PCT
	F81088	271A Southend Road	Stanford-le-Hope	Essex	SS17
					8HD
					RM18
	F81110	Tilbury Health Centre	London Road	Tilbury, Essex	8EB
	F81197	Sancta Maria Medical Centre	Daiglen Drive	South Ockendon	RM15
					5SZ
	F81198	The Surgery	High Road	Horndon-on-the-Hill	SS17
					8LB
					RM18
	F81206	4 St. Chads Road	Tilbury	Essex	8LA
					RM17
	F81623	The Surgery	167 Bridge Road	Grays, Essex	6DB
					RM15
	F81632	The Health Centre	Darenth Lane	South Ockendon	5LP
					RM17
	F81643	Grays Health Centre	Brooke Road	Grays	5BY
					SS17
	F81644	Ash Tree Surgery	33 Fobbing Road	Corringham	9BG
					RM18
	F81652	Medic House	Ottawa Road	Tilbury	7RJ
					RM17
	F81659	Grays Health Centre	Brooke Road	Grays, Essex	5BY
					RM15
	F81669	2 Fortin Path	South Ockendon	Essex	5NL
					RM18
	F81691	East Tilbury Health Centre	85 Coronation Avenue	East Tilbury	8SW
					RM18
	F81708	105 Calcutta Road	Tilbury	Essex	7QA
					RM18
	F81719	57 Calcutta Road	Tilbury	Essex	7QZ
					RM18
	F81734	4 Commonwealth House	Montreal Road	Tilbury, Essex	7QX
					RM15
	Y00087	South Ockendon Health Centre	Darenth Lane	South Ockendon	5LP
Source: The information centre for health and social care general and personal medical services statistics

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to attract additional GPs to Thurrock to provide for (a) retirements of existing practitioners and (b) anticipated growth of population in the next decade; and if she will make a statement. [97017]

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Caroline Flint: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities to understand the demographic make-up of their general practitioner (GP) workforce and develop plans, in liaison with their local NHS Trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services and take action to ensure that the appropriate number of GPs are recruited, to replace those reaching retirement age.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there were per thousand population in Thurrock in each of the last 10 years. [97018]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the general medical practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars per 1,000 head of population, for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2001-05. Information is not available prior to 2001.

1 Nov 2006 : Column 488W

Number (headcount)
		2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
5GQ	Thurrock PCT

	All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)	62	62	67	64	72
	Population	143,297	144,501	145,274	145,689	145,689
	All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) per 1,000 head of population	0.43	0.43	0.46	0.44	0.49
Notes: General medical practitioners excluding retainers and registrars, per 1,000 head of population, for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2001-05 General Medical Practitioners excluding retainers and registrars includes, contracted GPs, CMS others and PMS others. Prior to September 2004 this group included CMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs. Mid-year ONS 2005 population figures for PCTs are not yet available, therefore 2004 PCT figures have been used for 2005 organisation calculations, as a result these figures are subject to change. Source: The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics, 2001 ONS Population Census

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) age profile and (b) anticipated retirement pattern of GPs in Thurrock is in (i) single doctor practices and (ii) group practices; and if she will make a statement. [97019]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The following table shows all practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars in Thurrock PCT, as at 30 September 2005 which is the latest data available.

Number (headcount)
	All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)	30-34	35-39	40-44	45-49	50-54	55-59	60-64	65-69
All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)	72	4	7	5	17	9	15	9	6

Of which:

Working in single handed partnerships	17-	⁽¹⁾—	⁽¹⁾—	⁽¹⁾—	2	1	2	7	5
Working in group partnerships	45	3	4	4	12	8	12	1	1
PCT Employed	10	1	3	1	3	⁽¹⁾—	1	1	⁽¹⁾—
⁽¹⁾ Denotes zero Note: General medical practitioners excluding retainers and registrars, includes contracted general practitioners, GMS Others and PMS Others. Source: The information centre for health and social care general and personal medical services Statistics

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