Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration

Thursday 14th March 2013 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt)]

I am responding on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the 41st report of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB). The report has been laid before Parliament today (Cm 8577). Copies of the report are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office. I am grateful to the chair and members of the DDRB for their report.

We welcome the 41st report of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration and note its observations and:

accept its recommendations in respect of salaried doctors and dentists; and

accept the recommendation of a 1% increase in GP pay but abate the recommended allowance for GP practice staff costs from 3.4% to 1% to reflect public sector pay policy, giving an overall increase in general medical services payments of 1.32% rather than the 2.29% recommended by DDRB.

We will take forward DDRB’s suggested actions, which will help us continue to improve our support for the DDRB’s important work.