§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that GPs who retire in the period up to 2005 in(a) East Lancashire and (b) Pendle are replaced. [129612]
§ Mr. DenhamEast Lancashire health authority is taking a number of initiatives in response to a study by Lancaster University relating to workforce planning for general medical and other primary care staff. The 1998 study projected data to 2003–04; these data will be reviewed in the near future and extended for a further period. Measures include
Promoting Personal Medical Services (PMS) pilots where appropriate. There has been a very encouraging response in applications for the third wave of PMS;Working locally through Primary Care Groups (PCGs) and with the Post Graduate Medical Centre at Manchester University to expand the number of training practices and the number of trainees in East Lancashire. Three locally trained general practitioners joined the East Lancashire list last year;The development of a recruitment package aimed at the National Health Service in East Lancashire, but with a focus on General Practice;Ensuring that retiring GPs give as much notice as possible (three months is the minimum) and to plan a phased approach to retirement where possible;PCGs are encouraging practices to review their skill mix and examine alternative options for patient care e.g. greater use of nurse practitioners.The health authority, together with Pendle PCG, is actively addressing the issue of GP retirement and subsequent recruitment. It is using all the above approaches, however, the deployment of one or more PMS pilots is regarded as a particularly appropriate solution for the area.