Doctors to receive 'golden hellos'

New GPs will receive "golden hellos" of up to £10,000 for joining the NHS, the Government is to announce today.

Measures aimed at increasing the number of GPs - hit by low morale and heavy workloads - by making primary care a more attractive option will be unveiled by the Department of Health and the British Medical Association.

Under the "golden hello" scheme every GP who joins the NHS will be given up to £5,000, with an additional payment of up to £5,000 if they work in an area where family doctors are scarce.

Health officials say that about 1,300 GPs across the country will benefit this year from the scheme which was first revealed in March and will have their pay backdated today from April.

The move follows a number of concerns raised by GPs about the profession's mounting workload, low morale and recruitment and retention problems.

Health Minister John Hutton pledged to work with the profession to address those concerns "head on".

"Primary care is a vital part of the NHS - it is where most patients are treated," he said. "We are committed to boosting GP numbers. We want to see at least 2,000 more by 2004.

"There are now more GPs working in the NHS than ever before and it's a trend that's continuing. Some of these will want to work flexibly, including part-time, and the changes we are announcing today will help the NHS meet its recruitment targets for new GPs."

Mr Hutton said that "golden hellos" would "help bring more GPs into the health service".

He said: "Increasing GP numbers will bring reductions in workload, helping make primary care a better place to work." In moves to bring health professionals in primary care in line with those in hospitals, the Government is also to ensure that GP registrars' pay is increased in line with that of junior hospital doctors and that practice nurses receive pay awards that are comparable to their colleagues in hospitals.

Doctors on maternity leave will receive funding for a period of 18 weeks to employ a replacement locum doctor.

This is an increase from the present 14-week period and will rise further to 26 weeks by April 2003.

Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA's GPs' Committee, said: "The UK remains desperately short of GPs. For many years the GPC has raised serious concerns about recruitment and retention.

"We are only too aware that all over the country GPs - many with vacancies in their practices - are struggling to cope with an increasingly intensive workload.

"It is gratifying the Government is now recognising urgent action is required and the measures that are being announced today are important steps in the right direction."