GPs' chief warns £13m health fund may be lost

Published on Sunday 17 June 2007 01:14

THE leader of Scotland's doctors last night warned that a £13m fund for cancer patients and other vital services was in danger of being scrapped by the government.

Dean Marshall, chairman of the Scottish GP committee of the British Medical Association (BMA), revealed guaranteed funding aimed at improving cancer waiting times and NHS care for patients who have learning disabilities or act as carers is to be abandoned by ministers.

The services were singled out for extra funding in the new Direct Enhanced Services contract, negotiated between GPs and the government, which ensured money went straight to patients.

One scheme examined the length of time it took cancer patients to be treated, from when their illness first became obvious to a GP to the time of treatment.

Yesterday Marshall said the future of these ring fenced schemes were in jeopardy. He added: "There was a direction given to health boards that they must spend this money on these services.

Now, at the end of the first year of the contract, the health department has decided not to continue going that way. They are going to let boards decide how to spend the money themselves, but there is no guarantee the services will be continued."

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients Association, warned: "If that money was meant for cancer patients and others it should not be given to health boards to do what they like with it."

An Executive spokesman said: "These services were negotiated for a period of 12 months. Working with NHS boards, we will be considering a wider programme of services that could be introduced by October. No decisions have been made."