§ Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the shortfall in numbers of general practitioners in the Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley Area Health Authority Districts; and if he will make a statement on the measures he has taken, or intends to take, to remove the shortfall.
§ Mr. MoyleThere are no nationally agreed criteria for assessing the number of general practitioners needed in a par658W ticular area; moreover general practitioners are independent contractors who, within the limits mentioned below, decide for themselves where they will practise. The Medical Practices Committee, however, has the task of securing a more even distribution of medical practitioners throughout the country, and for this purpose classifies practice areas according to the average number of patients per doctor. Those with low average lists are classified as "restricted" or "intermediate" and the Committee may refuse applications to provide general medical services in such areas on the grounds that the number of doctors is already adequate, thereby encouraging doctors to go to "open" or "designated" areas where the average lists are higher. In addition to the controls applied by the Medical Practices Committee there are financial inducements in the form of allowances aimed at encouraging doctors to practise in "designated" areas. Four of the five Doncaster practice areas and two of the three Rotherham practice areas, but none of the three Barnsley areas, are at present classified as "designated".
By agreement with the representatives of general practitioners my Department is setting up a working party to consider whether there is anything more that can be done to help recruitment and retention of doctors in under-doctored areas.