Doctors returning to the NHS are eligible for ‘golden hellos’ of up to
£12,000 under a new initiative aimed at boosting hospital recruitment.
The scheme was introduced in April 2001 for doctors joining the NHS for the
first time. But it has now been extended to doctors and consultants returning
to the NHS fold, and has been increased from £10,000 to £12,000.
The national ‘Returners’ campaign will offer advice, training and support to
GPs, consultants and doctors who are not currently working in the NHS. It aims
to offer returning doctors a clear route back into the NHS with the option of
working either full- or part-time.
Doctors will now be able to organise their hours on an annual basis, working
different hours at certain times of the year – more hours during term time and
fewer during school holidays, for example.
The scheme will also provide more support for returnees including childcare,
counselling services and mentoring.
David Amos, deputy director of HR at the Department of Health, is optimistic
the scheme will help the NHS meet some of its staffing shortages.
"We know there are a lot of doctors out there who aren’t working in the
NHS and some want to come back.
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"This increases the opportunities and objectives we’ve got to meet
growth targets," he said.
Returning doctors will receive fully-funded refresher training, and support
from returner co-ordinators and educational supervisors.
