HC Deb 20 January 2003 vol 398 cc137-8W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the proposed 16 week rule for doctors coming to work in the UK from elsewhere in Europe; and what representations he has made to the EU about the proposed 16 week rule for doctors;[88170]

(2) if he will make a statement on the draft EU directive on the recognition of professional medical qualifications. [88175]

Mr. Hutton

The aim of improving mobility of workers in the European Union is one we fully support. Exchanges of professional staff bring mutual benefits to this country, the national health service and other member states. However, free movement provisions must be balanced with proper safeguards for service quality and public protection and this view has been represented in European Union working groups and council debates on the Directive by both the United Kingdom and other member states. We shall ensure that this concern, including reservations about the 16-week provision of services, is addressed in ongoing negotiations on the Directive.

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors who are citizens of(a) Pakistan and (b) India are working (i) in NHS hospitals and (ii) in general practice. [88958]

Mr. Hutton

The Department does not collect data on citizenship, as requested. The number of national health service hospital doctors and general medical practitioners by country of primary medical qualification is shown in the table.

The data for country of qualification by individual countries are far from complete. There are large numbers of doctors who qualified outside the United Kingdom, for whom we cannot ascribe an individual country. Information for country of primary medical qualification is derived from data supplied by the general medical council.

NHS Hospital Doctors and General Medical Practitioners' by
country of primary medical qualification-2001
Number (headcount)
India Pakistan
NHS Hospital Medical Doctors 5,783 1,106
GMPs 2,768 374
1Includes GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para. 52 SFA), PMS Other and GP Retainers.

Note:

Data as at 30 September 2001.

Sources:

Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.