GPS IN PRINCIPLE BUT NOT IN PRACTICE - A STUDY OF VOCATIONALLY TRAINED DOCTORS NOT CURRENTLY WORKING AS PRINCIPALS

Objectives-To identify doctors who are vocationally trained but not currently practising as principals in general practice; their reasons for not practising as principals; and whether the prospect of a re-entry course would appeal to this group. Design-Postal questionnaire survey based on semistructured interviews. Subjects-Doctors who had been vocationally trained but were not currently practising as principals: 351 possible subjects identified by a process of ''networking.'' Setting-Trent Regional Health Authority. Results-166 of the doctors who replied fitted the criteria (100 women; 66 men). The out of hours commitment was ranked as the most important factor for not practising as a principal-95 women and 50 men rated it important-followed by difficulty in combining work with family commitments-84 women, 31 men. 82 respondents (49%) said they would be interested in a re-entry course if one were available. Conclusions-There is a pool of vocationally trained doctors in Trent region who are not practising as principals in general practice. More flexible working patterns and the availability of a re-entry course could make the post of principal in general practice a more attractive proposition to these doctors.