§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to the national health service of training a doctor.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe clinical training of medical students provided within the national health service is supported by the service increment for teaching and research. The amount of SIFTR paid annually in respect of each medical student is £36,292 at 1993–94 prices, for each of three clinical years. However, doctors also spend varying but significant periods in postgraduate training and subsequently throughout their careers in training activities designed to enable them to keep up to date in a rapidly changing clinical environment. It is not possible to quantify the total cost to the NHS of these forms of training.