HC Deb 24 October 2000 vol 355 cc121-2W
34. Ms Rosie Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage GPs to undertake in-service training. [131886]

Mr. Denham

Learning must be lifelong and cannot cease at the end of formal training. The existing general medical services arrangements for general practitioners include incentives to keep their knowledge up to date through a balanced programme of postgraduate education. This is mirrored in the new core contract for personal medical services.

In addition, the National Health Service Plan outlines a new quality agenda for the health service. Continuing professional development (CPD) is central to this and to ensuring that all GPs, doctors and other professional staff can meet the highest quality standards. The plan commits us to investing an extra £140 million by 2003–04.

We are therefore committed to developing all professionals in primary care and are currently developing, in consultation with the profession, a programme for delivering quality, with a strong emphasis on CPD.