Fundholding in Northern Region: practice managers' views.

Describes the views of practice managers in 30 fundholding practices in the Northern Region concerning their role in the scheme. A self-completion questionnaire was mailed to practice managers and general practitioners containing questions designed to elicit their views about changes in relationships inside and outside the practice; their level of involvement in various aspects of fundholding; and the costs and benefits of the scheme. A total of 30 first-, second-, and third-wave fundholding practices in the Northern Region, June 1993 were involved. Replies were received from 22 practice managers (73 per cent) and 83 general practitioners (49 per cent). Concludes that although fundholding has increased the nature and volume of the workload of practice managers, these changes do not appear to be causing any tensions between managers and clinicians. At the moment fundholding extends the support role of practice managers and does not alter existing authority relations in practices.