§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs with Special Interests are working in(a) the UK and (b) South Sefton Primary Care Trust; and how many he estimates will be working in the UK by 2004. [124343]
§ Mr. HuttonThe latest published data show that, in March 2002, there were around 650 general practitioners with a special interest in England, including two in the South Sefton Primary Care Trust.figures for march 2003 will be available shortly.
§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to recruit more general practitioners in the London Borough of Havering; and if he will make a statement on GP numbers in the Borough. [122201]
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§ Mr. HuttonInformation on the number of general medical practitioners in Havering Primary Care Trust is shown in the table.
General medical practitioners in Havering Primary Care Trust All practitioners1 2001 122 2002 124 1 All practitioners include UPEs, restricted principals, GP registrars, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS others and GP retainers. We are committed to increasing the general practitioner (GP) workforce and have introduced a range of measures to improve GP recruitment and retention. These include financial incentives to new and returning GPs and older GPs who delay their retirement from the national health service, a GP returners campaign and the newly launched Flexible Career Scheme which will help to create additional part-time and flexible posts within general practice.
Havering PCT is working to make Havering a more attractive proposition for GPs to work in. Some of the areas being progressed are the development of specialists GPs and a means of retaining registrars after they qualify. Havering PCT is also fully engaged in the international recruitment campaign for GPs.