HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc951-2W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage trainee general practitioners to develop special interests. [138987]

Angela Smith

My Department has received a proposal to extend the GP Vocational Training programme by one year, to enable trainee GPs to develop special interests. The practicalities and funding implications of this proposal are currently being considered.

Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage trainee general practitioners in Northern Ireland to develop an interest in the area of family planning. [138988]

Angela Smith

My Department has received a proposal to extend the GP Vocational Training programme by one year, to enable trainee GPs to develop special interests, including family planning. The practicalities and funding implications of this proposal are currently being considered.

Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage experienced senior house officers in hospitals in the Province to remain in Northern Ireland to complete their GP registrar year. [138990]

Angela Smith

Vocational Training for General Practice consists of three years, made up of two years in approved Senior House Officer posts in hospitals followed by one year in a GP Registrar post.

The Department currently funds 40 GP Registrar posts per year, all of which, from this year, will be allocated to doctors participating in a three year integrated training programme. This means that there will be no new GP Registrar posts available for other Senior House Officers who are not in the three-year scheme and no arrangements are in place for such posts.

At present there is no shortage of GPs in Northern Ireland and the numbers in training meet current demands. However, the number of GP Registrar posts available will be kept under review as part of the Department's workforce planning process.