Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 May 2007. It was answered by Andy Burnham (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 May 2007 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Primary Health Care

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the isolated contractual difficulties were with primary care services in some parts of the country referred to in paragraph 1.5.2 of her Department's Winter Report 2006-07, published 3 April; in which primary care trusts the isolated contractual difficulties arose; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Primary care trusts now have a legal responsibility to make sure patients are well cared for during the out-of-hours period and are responsible for performance managing their providers in the delivery of out-of-hours services.The Department does not routinely collect performance information on out of hours services. However, concerns about the out-of-hours service in Cornwall have been raised in the House on 20 February 2007, Official Report, column 1WH, by the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor).Since then, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust has worked with the provider, Serco, to put in place an improvement plan including an increase in staffing and capacity. South West Strategic Health Authority reports that the service is improving and it is now hitting 100 per cent. on many targets.In addition, in response to an issue raised by the coroner for inner north London, the Department issued Directions to primary care trusts in December 2006 requiring them to review arrangements locally to ensure adequate systems are in place to support continuity of care and ensure patient safety is safeguarded.

Secondary information