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Last week health minister Ann Keen said that only 10-15 per cent of the scheme's £250 million annual budget will fund the GPs, pharmacists and health professionals conducting the risk assessments and laboratory tests.

The remaining 85-90 per cent will fund subsequent interventions.  

Ms Keen was responding to questions on the proposals from Conservative shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley.

But GPC negotiator Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: ‘We need to define the workforce and logistical implications first. The funding must follow this modelling.

‘Clearly the proposals will not work unless enabled by adequate resources,' he added. 

‘It needs the support of the workforce that will help implement it.'

Dr John Pittard, a GP in Surrey and member of the  Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS), said: ‘It doesn't seem very much money to me. Chasing people up and seeing the worried well will eat up a lot of resources.' 

The DoH says the scheme is will take up seven extra appointments a week in each GP practice, but the GPC estimates that the figure could be closer to 40.

tom.ireland@haymarket.com

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