A NEW scheme may be launched to attract doctors to Blackburn and Darwen by making the job more appealing.

Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust has applied to the Government to establish 19 Personal Medical Services pilot schemes in GP surgeries.

The schemes will mean GPs' contracts will be with the PCT rather than with central government, cutting down mountains of paperwork, giving them equal pay each month and allowing them to spend more time with their patients.

The PMS is similar to the new GP contract, due to be introduced next year, but the PCT has opted to be one of the first in the country to try the new pilots ahead of the contract change. The scheme is one way of tackling the GP shortage in the area, which is part of a national problem.

East Lancashire has 15 GP vacancies, out of around 279 GPs in 114 practices and, although health bosses launched a major scheme earlier in the year to recruit GPs from Spain, none chose to settle here.

The PMS could also lead to more nurses being recruited to practices. Successful applicants will get "growth monies" which boost practices in socially deprived areas to expand and improve facilities.

Chief executive Vivien Aspey said: "We have been processing a considerable number of successful PMS applications. This will have quite an impact with primary care in Blackburn with Darwen and will point a way to the introduction of more GPs per head of population." Dr Malcolm Ridgway, primary care development lead with the PCT, said: "The new contracts with the Government, which have been suggested by the BMA, mean doctors will not have to apply for allowances but be salaried and can even opt out of out of hours services. We have to make the job more attractive to new GPs."

Dr Ridgway said the PCT had already put together a number of schemes to make the job more attractive, including East Lancashire PCTs becoming one of only 11 teaching trusts nationally and being part of the LIFT scheme, which will offer grants to renovate and modernise GP surgeries, which needs to find a private partner.

The PCT received 37 applications for the PMS scheme from local GPs and, if it gets the go-ahead it is likely to start in October.

GPs within the PCT have also been active setting up practices specialising in coronary heart disease, dermatology and ophthalmology.

In April 2001 there were just two GP practices in the area providing coronary heart disease clinics, compared with 33 now.

Dr Ridgway, who has applied to set up one of the PMS pilots at his Roman Road surgery in Blackburn, said: "Doctors will be attracted by being salaried and we may be able to offer them other perks, which will hopefully go towards increasing the number of GPs in the area."