Health Services: Rural Areas

Mrs. Dean
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that people with mobility problems or other disabilities secondary to chronic health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis will be able to access polyclinics and other primary care services in rural areas.

Mr. Bradshaw
The premises from where such services are to be delivered must comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. It is for primary care trusts to develop, in consultation with local people, general practitioners and others, the services within the health centre that best reflect local needs.