Letter: GPs foot bill for skiing holidays

Sir: I was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of five colleagues, one of whom I knew personally, and their guide in the tragic avalanche in Val d'Isere on 29 January. My wife and I were participants on the same course of postgraduate education and skiing two years ago and our sympathy goes to the bereaved families.

In the light of such tragedy it may seem a small point, but I would like to scotch a myth perpetuated in Stephen Ward's contribution to your coverage ('GPs funded to combine lectures with leisure', 31 January). It is not correct to state that general practitioners can 'fund skiing or golfing holidays from a National Health Service grant by combining them with courses of lectures'.

The so-called grant is assumed to be part of the 'net intended remuneration' of GPs but is only payable on production of approved certificates of attendance at officially recognised courses. Such approval is monitored by an independent assessor if the course is outside a recognised educational establishment, as indeed are the ones in Val d'Isere. Course participants are also obliged to evaluate the teaching they have received. Only the course fee is tax-deductible; the cost of travel and the 'holiday' part is entirely borne by the individual doctors. The high cost of the latter is the main reason I was not also a participant last week in Val d'Isere.

Yours sincerely,

EWAN GERARD

Littlehampton, West Sussex