ABSTRACT
Introduction Doctors who are qualified general practitioners (GPs) leave the specialty for a variety of reasons, including domestic commitments and other career pathways.1 Research has shown that 20 years after qualification almost a quarter of doctors are not working in medicine.2 The recruitment and retention of GPs has become a national priority and The NHS Plan3 required the appointment of an additional 2000 GPs into substantive posts by 2004. One of the most cost effective methods of increasing the number of GPs in the workforce is to recruit doctors who have previously left the specialty.
