HL Deb 18 December 2003 vol 655 cc175-6WA
Lord Vivian

asked Her Majesty's Government: What has been the effect of the £50,000 "golden hello" on the recruitment of consultants into the Defence Medical Services. [HL354]

Lord Bach

The Golden Hello scheme is proving to be a very effective means of increasing the recruitment of both consultants in the specialist medical categories which attract a Golden Hello payment and vocationally trained general medical practitioners (GMPs) into the Defence Medical Services.

As of 30 November 2003, 12 months into the scheme, five consultants and six vocationally trained general medical practitioners (GMPs) had joined the Defence Medical Services (DMS) under the Golden Hello scheme. In addition, three consultants and nine vocationally trained GMPs have been accepted into the DMS and will receive their Golden Hello payment once they are commissioned in to their service. One consutant and seven GMPs are awaiting selection interviews. By comparison, in the 12 months prior to the introduction of the Golden Helios in November 2002, the DMS recruited two consultants into the specialties that attract the additional payment, and four GMPs.