§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many GPs left practice in 2000–01; and how many of these were(a) part-time and (b) full-time equivalents; [152803]
(2) how many new GPs were appointed in the financial year 2000–01; and how many of these were (a) part-time and (b) full-time equivalents; [152802]
(3) what the net change in the number of full-time equivalent GPs was between 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [152804]
§ Mr. DenhamBetween 1999 and 2000 there was a net increase of 410 general practitioners or 190 on an estimated whole time equivalent basis. In addition, the number of GP registrars (trainees) continues to rise from its low point of 1,305 in 1996 to 1,659 at 31 September 2000. These are the GPs of the future.
The table gives more details of joiners and leavers. It shows that, 203 unrestricted principal and equivalent GPs joined practice and 1,090 left. Within these totals the table identifies the numbers of full and part-time GPs in each category. It does not however show how many GPs who 800W have stopped working as an unrestricted principal or equivalent continue to practise as, for example, locums, as part of the salaried doctor scheme, or retainers. That information is not held centrally.
Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)1:Joiners and Leavers2 England Number (headcount) 1999 1999–2000 2000 UPEs1 27,591 — 27,704 All Joiners — 1,203 — of which: Full-time — 723 — Part-time — 480 — of which: New Joiners — 958 — of which: Full-time — 597 — Part-time — 361 — Rejoiners — 245 — of which: Full-time — 126 — Part-time — 119 — Leavers — 1,090 — of which: Full-time — 748 — Part-time — 342 — 1UPEs includes Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs. 2Leavers are defined as UPEs recorded in the 1999 census but not in the 2000 census Joiners are defined as UPEs recorded in the 2000 census but not in the 1999 census although Rejoiners have been employed at some time prior to 1999 and new joiners are doctors who have not previously held a UPE post. Part time is a combination of three-quarter time, half time and job share. Source
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.