Doctors (Emigration)

23.

Dr. Vaughan
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement on the emigration of doctors to posts overseas.

Mrs. Castle
Forward indicators suggesting a rising trend in emigration of British doctors were considered by the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body. I share the concern it expresses in its report. I hope that the new rates of remuneration will encourage British doctors to remain in the National Health Service. I am watching the situation closely.

53.

Mr. Hooson
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many medical personnel, having contracts with the National Health Service, are known to have emigrated or applied for permission to emigrate in the last two years; and if she is able to say how many were general practitioners, how many were registrars or junior medical staff in hospitals and how many had consultant status.

Dr. Owen
Information in the form requested is not available. The following table gives figures of doctors leaving the National Health Service in England and Wales during 1973 and 1974 and expressing an intention to emigrate.------------------------
|                      |
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|All doctors           |
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|Consultants           |
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|Senior registrars     |
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|Registrars            |
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|Other hospital doctors|
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|General practitioners |
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The high figure for overseas-born doctors, particularly in the junior grades, reflects the characteristic migration pattern that such doctors come to this country for three or four years' post-graduate medical training in junior hospital posts, after which most leave the country. The actual outflow from the NHS is usually higher than the "intention" figures.