Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Whitehall calls halt to NHS fundholder `fast-track'

Colin Brown
Tuesday 15 July 1997 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Government today will announce the end of "fast-track" service for patients of GP fundholders with the abolition of the internal market in the National Health Service.

The move by Health ministers will make it clear to health authorities and hospital trusts that they should plan to give family doctors equal access to operations for their patients. Some doctors who ran their own budgets were given priority by hospitals, but the competition between GPs is set to end.

Frank Dobson, Secretary of State for Health, will signal plans to replace fundholding with more co-operation between GPs, fulfilling a Labour election manifesto commitment.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in