HL Deb 20 March 1997 vol 579 cc1074-5

12 Clause 9, page 5, line 16. at end insert—

("() Subsection (1) does not prevent the performance of personal medical services by—

  1. (a) a person who is acting in the course of acquiring the experience prescribed by regulations made under section 32 of the 1977 Act or section 22 of the 1978 Act;
  2. (b) a person who is provisionally registered under section 15 or 21 of the Medical Act 1983, acting in the course of his employment in a resident medical capacity in an approved medical practice (within the meaning of section 11(4) of that Act); or
  3. (c) such other category of person as may be prescribed.")

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 12. I should also like to speak to Amendments Nos. 24, 26, 29, 33, 54, 69 to 73, 81, 101 and 106. At Second Reading in another place cross-party concerns were raised about the limitations in the Medical Act 1983 which prevented pre-registration house officers taking placements in general practice except in health centres. The Government responded to those concerns through Amendments Nos. 54 and 106.

These amendments are designed to enable more young doctors in their final year of basic training—the pre-registration house officer year—to undertake part of that training in general practice. Allowing them to train in general practice fits in well, given that this Bill provides opportunities for more flexible ways of working and providing services. Our proposals are also fully supported by the profession.

Finally, the amendments to Clauses 9 and 20 and to Schedule 2 also extend to the new arrangements the provisions for vocational training which currently exist in the general medical services. They will also enable the Secretary of State to provide for vocational training in the personal dental services.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No.12.—(Baroness Cumberlege.)

Baroness Hayman

My Lords, I welcome the amendment. We support the concept of giving junior doctors at an early stage in their career the opportunity to participate in general practice. We have all been concerned with the issues of recruitment and retention in general practice. It is wise to allow those pre-registration house officers to have a taster of general practice. It is to be hoped that they will be encouraged to spend at least a part of their career in that branch of the service. The combination of the training opportunities, together with the possibilities of salaried service—we hope that the pilot schemes will give an opportunity for more flexibility at various stages of people's careers than general practice has allowed for in the past—is important. Therefore we welcome the amendments as part of the process of rebuilding the general practitioner service.

Baroness Gardner of Parkes

My Lords, I, too, welcome the amendment. General practice is under threat at present. There is every need for young doctors to become interested in it. They will see everyday conditions in general practice. When the system was limited only to health centres it was not wide enough. It is a splendid amendment.

Baroness Robson of Kiddington

My Lords, we on these Benches welcome the amendments.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in support. I commend the amendment.

On Question, Motion agreed to.