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A package of measures to boost recruitment and retention of doctors, consultants and GPs in the NHS has been announced.
The move will see an increase in 'golden hello' payments for GPs of up to £12,000.
'Golden hello' payments were first introduced in April 2001 and since then more than 1,700 payments have been made. It has now been extended to GPs who return to practice and the maximum payment increased to £12,000 in the areas where doctors are needed most.
A national 'Returners' campaign to offer advice, training and support to GPs, consultants and doctors in the training grades who are not currently working in the NHS has also been launched. Returning doctors will have a clear route back into the NHS with salaried refresher training and the option of working full or part time.
To support the campaign, the Flexible Careers Scheme - started in November 2001 for hospital doctors and doctors in training - has been extended to those who wish to work part time.
GPs will be able to organise their hours on an annualised basis, working different hours at particular times of the year, for example working more hours during term time and fewer during school holidays.
Health Minister John Hutton said: "These new initiatives are just some of the ways we are trying to respond to the needs of the future medical workforce - making medical careers attractive to the next generation of clinicians and leaders.
"If we can succeed in recruiting and retaining more doctors then the NHS will be able to become the service we all want it to be. A service that provides faster more convenient care of the highest possible quality. Better able to meet the needs of today's society."
