§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of GPs in the NHS. [77511]
§ Mr. HuttonA range of recruitment and retention initiatives are currently in place or being developed to help increase the number of general practitioners (GPs), including: international recruitment, promoting improving working lives initiative in primary care, the delayed retirement scheme, more flexible employment arrangements through personal medical services, the recently announced extension to the flexible careers scheme to include GPs and the golden hello scheme which will shortly be extended to include qualified440W doctors who are not currently working in National Health Service general practice who return to take up a NHS post.
§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on progress made in GP recruitment in the last 12 months. [77144]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 4 November 2002]: Between 30 September 2000 and 30 September 2001, the number of general practitioners (GPs), including unrestricted principals and equivalents, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para. 52 SFA), personal medical services others and GP retainers working in the National Health Service increased by 466. A spring census was carried out on 31 March 2002, which shows a further increase of 176.
The government has introduced and is developing a significant number of initiatives to boost the recruitment and retention of GPs. These include golden hellos to new and returning GPs, delayed retirement payments, flexible career scheme, extension of the improving working lives initiative to primary care and international recruitment.