§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to encourage doctors who have ceased to work for the National Health Service, other than those who have retired, to return to National Health Service practice. [HL1217]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Government are making progress on modernising services and modernising employment practice in the National Health Service to retain staff. We are developing more supportive, flexible and family friendly working practices; extending and improving investment in lifelong learning and professional development; tackling violence and racism in the workplace; and involving staff in the way services are delivered and in the changes and developments that affect their working lives.
In particular, the salaried doctors scheme will enable doctors to work in general practice, who would otherwise have to buy into a practice: improvements to the general practitioner retainer scheme will increase the hours that GPs can work while out of mainstream employment and enhance the educational component to ease future reintegration into the workforce: and the Personal Medical Services Primary Care Act pilots will enable a flexible range of employment opportunities to be offered and the development of new ways in which services are delivered.