HC Deb 01 February 1984 vol 53 cc263-4W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring forward proposals to eliminate unemployment among newly qualified doctors.

M r. Kenneth Clarke

I am very concerned that about 12 newly qualified doctors have been unable to find a post from 1 February to provide them with the experience they need to become fully registered. However, in at least four cases; the doctors did not apply for jobs which were available outside their preferred areas.

We took a number of steps following a similar problem in tie summer, including asking health authorities to provide more posts. We are now considering as a matter of urgency what further can be done and have already asked the Council for Postgraduate Medical Education to consider the problem and to make recommendations for solving it.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors who qualified during the last two years are at present not in full-time medical employment.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

This information is not available centrally. About 12 newly qualified doctors have not been able to find pre-registration house officer posts starting on February 1. Of these at least four were prepared to apply for posts only in London and the south east and two were re-qualified overseas doctors.