Doctors' retainer scheme in Scotland: time for change?

Objectives: To describe the present doctors' retainer scheme in Scotland and ascertain the need for change.

Design: Semistructured postal questionnaires to current and past members of the doctors' retainer scheme and general practitioner employers.

Setting: Scotland, October to December 1994.

Subjects: 152/160 current and 104/124 former members responded together with 101/118 general practitioner employers.

Results: 93% of members currently working in general practice were either vocationally trained or had previously worked as principals. 84% of current members held postgraduate qualifications. 73% of former members had left the scheme within 4 years and 72% of current members had been with the scheme for 4 years or less. 66% of current members said that the scheme prevented them from leaving medicine. Both members and employers were dissatisfied with the current limit of two working sessions per week, 77% of employers wanting it increased. 61% of current members would not have joined the scheme if suitable part time work had been available and 46% of those would have preferred to work flexibly, up to 5 sessions per week. 52% of members do not receive BMA rates of pay and, of those, 46% work more than 3.5 hours per session.

Conclusion: The scheme appears to be appreciated and would be more so if inconsistencies in pay and conditions were addressed. An increase in the permitted number of weekly sessions would enable these highly qualified doctors to maintain their skills and confidence.