HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 cc516-7W
Dr. Evan Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts have been classified as being in under-doctored areas on the basis of the number of general practitioner principals, or equivalents, per weighted head of the population; what funding is being targeted at these primary care trusts in order to aid general practitioner recruitment; and if he will make a statement. [128903]

Mr. Hutton

The Department of Health definition of an under-doctored primary care trust (PCT) is that its number of whole time equivalent (wte) NHS Plan general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000 weighted population is less than the national average. As at the March 2003 workforce census the national average was 55.55 wte NHS Plan GPs per 100,000 weighted population.

The PCTs, which were identified as being under-doctored as at 31 March 2003 are listed as follows.

PCTs have been given an average cash increase exceeding 30 per cent. over the three years 2003–06. PCTs will be able to use these extra resources to deliver on both national and local priorities including recruiting additional staff in primary care. Guidance issued to PCTs entitled "Shifting the Balance of Power: New arrangements For Managing General Medical Practitioner Appointments" encouraged all PCTs to increase GP numbers, particularly in under-doctored areas. PCTs are also able to recruit additional GPs supported by general medical services non cash limited funds.

In addition to this increase in resources the following initiatives are also designed to increase GP numbers in under-doctored areas: The GP Golden Hello scheme has been implemented nationally. This pays up to £5,000 to new or returning GPs, and £12,000 if they go to work in an under-doctored area. Under-doctored areas have also been prioritised in the distribution of the planned increase of 550 GP registrar training posts up to 2004. Furthermore £45 million has been allocated over three years to improve GP training premises and increase capacity in under-doctored areas. Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) aims to deliver modern patient centres premises that will help attract and retain GPs in these under-doctored areas. The Department has earmarked £195 million to support the development of NHS LIFT.

Under-doctored PCT as at March 2003 Under-doctored PCT as at March 2003 Under-doctored PCT as at March 2003
North Tees Leeds West Greater Derby
Hartlepool North Kirklees Bassetlaw
Derwentside Bedford Newark and Sherwood
Easington Luton East Lincolnshire
Preston Oldbury and Smethwick Broxtowe and Hucknall
Chorley and South Ribble Rowley, Regis and Tipton North Eastern Derbyshire
West Lancashire Wednesbury and West Bromwich Gedling
Fylde Dudley South Ashfield
Blackburn with Darwen Wolverhampton City Mansfield District
Wyre Dudley Beacon and Castle Enfield
Blackpool Eastern Birmingham Havering
Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Walsall Redbridge
Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Heart of Birmingham Barking and Dagenham
Stockport Rugby Hounslow
Heywood and Middleton Coventry Greenwich
North Manchester North Warwickshire Bexley
Bury Harlow Sutton and Merton
Central Manchester Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford West Wiltshire
Bolton Witham, Braintree and Halstead Care Trust Fareham and Gosport
Rochdale Epping Forest Isle of Wight
Salford Castle Point and Rochford Portsmouth City
Tameside and Glossop Basildon Canterbury and Coastal
Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Southend On Sea Medway
Oldham Thurrock Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley
North Lincolnshire Tendring East Kent Coastal
Yorkshire Wolds and Coast Northampton Swale
North East Lincolnshire Hinckley and Bosworth Ashford
West Hull Northamptonshire Heartlands Shepway
Eastern Hull Eastern Leicester Sussex Downs and Weald
North Tyneside Southern Norfolk Brighton and Hove City
Sunderland Teaching Suffolk Coastal Adur, Arun and Worthing
Gateshead Waveney Bexhill and Rother
South Tyneside Great Yarmouth Hastings and St. Leonards
South East Sheffield East Staffordshire Eastbourne Downs
Cannock Chase Slough

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