AQW 16455/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 16/03/2021
Answered On Date: 02/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether current systems of training enable an adequate number of GPs to be trained to enter the workforce each year.

Answer:

In line with strategic workforce planning recommendations, the Department commissions a new annual input of 111 GP training places into the three-year programme managed by the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA).

The Department has increased the number of new GP commissioned training places by 71% over the period between 2015 and 2019. However, NIMDTA continues to ensure there is sufficient capacity in the system, and that the number of training practices is increased as appropriate, to cope with the additional trainees.