§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the implications of experienced senior house officers from Northern Ireland who complete their general practitioner registrar training in the United Kingdom outside Northern Ireland remaining in practices in England, Scotland or Wales. [152351]
§ Angela SmithThe Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has carried out a review of the medical workforce, which confirms that there is no shortage of general practitioners in Northern Ireland and that the number in training is sufficient to meet current demand. In determining the requirement for general practitioners, allowance is made for the movement of doctors into and out of the service locally.
The position will be kept under review through the Department's workforce planning process.