HC Deb 11 July 2003 vol 408 c1048W
Mr. Wiggin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors left the NHS last year. [123602]

Mr. Hutton

Work force data are collected through the annual Department of Health medical and general practitioner work force census. The census is a snapshot of data as of 30 September in the appropriate year. The information presented in the table shows the net difference in the number of doctors between September 2001 and September 2002. Data on numbers of leavers and joiners in the national health service is not available.

Hospital, public health medicine and community health services ( HCHS) medical and dental staff and general medical practitioners, in England, as at 30 September 2001 and 2002
headcount
2001 2002
All doctors1 100,319 104,460
of which:
HCHS medical and dental staff1 68,484 72,168
General medical practitioners 31,835 32,292
1 Excludes hospital medical hospital practitioners and hospital medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.

Note:

All practitioners include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and GP retainers.

Source:

Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics