To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to primary care trusts on funding domiciliary visits by consultants in the last 10 years. (279199)

No specific guidance has been issued to primary care trusts on the funding of domiciliary visits by consultants in the last ten years. Funding to cover the costs of domiciliary visits is included in primary care trust allocations; these then flow from primary care trusts to service providers.

Principles governing the receipt of additional fees by consultants, including domiciliary visits, form part of the ‘Terms and Conditions of Service—Consultants (England) 2003’. A copy has been placed in the Library. Guidance on the payment of additional fees to consultants, including domiciliary visits, was issued to employers to support the implementation of the 2003 consultant contract. A copy has been placed in the Library. It is expected that domiciliary visits will normally be scheduled as part of a consultant's programmed activities and, therefore, not attract any additional payment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many domiciliary visits were made by consultants in each (a) specialism and (b) primary care trust area in the last 10 years. (279200)

This information is not held centrally.