Dr. Brian Osborne:

In areas of deprivation or in rural areas - underserved areas where it is difficult to get GPs at present - consideration should be given to subsidised or rent-free periods to GPs in premises that are Government owned. There could be education grants, practice support grants and equipment grants to attract people to an area. If doctors are attracted to an area, they are more likely to stay with professional support, social support, personal support as well as financial support. Financial support will bring people in but it will not get people to stay in the long term. We need to change the dynamic to increase the numbers in those areas.