HC Deb 03 December 2002 vol 395 cc753-4
13. Mrs. Patsy Calton (Cheadle)

Whether general practitioner vacancies have gone up since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [82629]

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. John Hutton)

The NHS recruitment, retention and vacancy survey shows that there has been an increase in the estimated three-month vacancy rate for GPs from 1.7 per cent. on 31 March 2001 to 2.7 per cent. on 28 February 2002. The higher number of all GPs working in the NHS, excluding GP trainers, has increased by 1,469, or 5 per cent., since 1997.

Mrs. Calton

Will the Minister explain why the Secretary of State announced the golden hello scheme twice in March 2001, yet failed to provide any guidelines, including the start date—1 April 2001—until November 2001?

Mr. Hutton

We announced that we had reached agreement on the scheme and, in November, we announced and confirmed its details, but the payments were backdated to April, so no GP lost out. I am sure that the hon. Lady will be pleased to note that, last week, I confirmed that the golden hello payment has been increased to £12,000.

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