§ 30. Mr. HealeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on measures he is taking to increase the number of GPs practising in the UK and to reduce the patient:GP ratio in areas where there are shortages of doctors. [137666]
§ Mr. DenhamIn England, the NHS Plan commits us to deliver at least 2,000 extra general practitioners and 450 more GPs in 'training by 2004. New Personal Medical Services schemes, will be developed to attract doctors to disadvantaged communities. The NHS Plan also makes proposals to change the financing of health authorities to give them greater ability to attract new doctors in areas of shortage.