Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that female GPs remain within the profession.

Through our suite of retention schemes, we are encouraging general practitioners (GPs) to stay in the workforce for longer by addressing the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encouraging them to return to practice. Although these are open to all GPs, those aimed at encouraging better flexible working may be particularly beneficial for female GPs who might be more at risk of leaving the profession due to caring responsibilities.

Funding and support has also been made available for local Primary Care Flexible Staff Pools, to increase capacity in general practice and create a new offer for local GPs wanting to work flexibly. For GPs, pools can offer access to the flexibility of a locuming role and connections to work opportunities with increased job security and the benefits of a salaried position.