A
Government bonus scheme that offers golden hellos of up to £12,000 is failing
to attract sufficient numbers of doctors to fill local shortfalls.
Newspaper
reports claim fewer than 3,000 GPs have taken up the Government incentive since
its launch in April 2001.
Doctors
taking up their first full-time post are offered the inducement, which is
larger if they choose to work in an area short of GPs.
However,
a report in The Times newspaper claims the scheme has failed to attract any
more than the number expected to join general practice anyway.