The Audit Commission claimed in 1993 that the pendulum had swung too far in favour of GPs who wished to pursue their own interests as there was no mechanism to get them to support national objectives.
On the other hand, the Sheffield Far Lane Medical Centre was stripped of fundholding status after running up a £100,000 deficit and placing a block on the referral of patients with non-urgent conditions.
[3] Fundholding was abolished by the Labour Government in 1997/8[1][4] because of concerns that it helped to foster a two-tier health service.
but it enabled the incoming government to introduce primary care groups — "thereby universalising fundholding while repudiating the concept.
"[7] Research by Dr Russell Mannion at the University of York identified some benefits of the scheme:[5] and some disadvantages: