The United Kingdom is offering doctors cash incentives to enter or remain in family practice. Residents are being enticed to become general practitioners in deprived areas with a Can$16 000 “golden hello.” Meanwhile, family doctors who are approaching age 60 are being wooed with a $26 000 “golden handcuff” in an attempt to encourage them to reject early retirement and help prevent an expected GP shortage. Health Secretary Alan Milburn says he hopes to persuade hundreds of GPs to stay in practice.
The initiatives, part of a $160-million effort to increase retention and recruitment, are being taken at the behest of the British Medical Association. It warns that an extra 10 000 GPs will be needed to fulfil the government's pledge that everyone can have access to a doctor within 48 hours. So far, the government has promised an extra 2000 doctors.
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