Oral Answers to Questions

Christopher Pincher Excerpts

Tuesday 25th January 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Matthew Offord (Hendon) (Con)]

8. What recent progress he has made in introducing GP commissioning consortia.

[Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)]

11. What recent progress he has made in introducing GP commissioning consortia.

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley)]

Last week, I announced the second wave of GP-led pathfinder consortia. There are now 141 groups of GP practices piloting the future GP commissioning arrangements. Those groups are made up of more than 4,000 GP practices, with over half the population starting to benefit from services that better meet their needs and improve outcomes for patients. The Health and Social Care Bill, which had its First Reading last week, sets out the legislative framework that supports our reforms.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Lansley]

My hon. Friend might like to speak to general practitioners in Redbridge in London who, as a pathfinder consortium, have been pioneering GP-led commissioning for 18 months. They have redesigned care for patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease, and are shifting care in ophthalmology and dermatology to primary care settings. They are demonstrating how this form of locally and clinically-led commissioning is more responsive to patients and more effective.

[Christopher Pincher]

As we shift from PCTs commissioning services to GP consortia doing so, can my right hon. Friend confirm that the important work done by pharmacies, such as providing anti-smoking clinics and the supervised consumption of drug substitutes, will not be left out in the cold?