HC Deb 28 January 2003 vol 398 cc806-7W
Mr. Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the recruitment of general practitioners has changed in(a) Shropshire and (h) the UK, in the last five years. [84493]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 2 December 2002]Information relating to general practitioner recruitment in the Shropshire health authority area over the last five years is shown in the table. We do not collect this information on a UK basis.

Unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 : Numbers from
annual census 1996–2002—Shropshire health authority
Year Numbers (headcount)
1996 239
1997 239
1998 241
1999 250
2000 243
2001 243
2002 245
1 UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

UPEs: joiners and leavers in Shropshire HA between 1996–97 and 2001–02
Joiners Of which: New joiners Re-joiners
October 1996–October 1997 14 10 4
October 1997–October 1998 9 9 0
October 1998–October 1999 9 5 4
October 1999–October 2000 8 8 0
September 2000–September 2001 10 8 2
September 2001–March 20021 8 7 1
1This relates to a six month comparison and may not show seasonal variations.

Notes:

Numbers of UPEs as at I October 1996 to 1999, 30 September 2000–01 and 31 March 2002.

Other rows relate to changes between successive censuses.

Source:

Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Mr. Owen Paterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trainee GPs failed to complete their training in each year since 1977. [84494]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 2 December 2002]Summative assessment of general practice registrars was introduced throughout the United Kingdom in 1996. A review of the five year period to 30 September 2001 shows that 7,643 candidates undertook the test with 7,370 being successful and 273, 3.6 per cent, unsuccessful: A breakdown of this is set out in the following table. However, this does not include those doctors undertaking GP training who may have dropped out prior to being summatively assessed for which no figures are held.

Total GRPs Failed to complete Percentage
September 1996–August 1997 1,218 36 3.00
September 1997–August 1998 1,469 53 3.60
September 1998–August 1999 1,607 64 4.00
September 1999–August 2000 1,688 67 4.00
September 2000–August 2001 1,661 53 3.20
7,643 273 3.6

A recent investigation showed that out of the 273 unsuccessful GP registrars 183 have now successfully completed the summative assessment process 67 per cent. after a further period of training. eight are still in training 3 per cent. 82 did not complete their training, however these doctors may return to GP registrar training at a later date 30 per cent.

There are no centrally held figures in respect of doctors completing or not completing GP training prior to 1996.