I have written to health minister John Hutton urging him to listen to what doctors are saying

Dr Simon Fradd, BMA

Newly qualified doctors would also be offered a �5,000 "golden hello".

The BMA surveyed 1,000 doctors, just under half of whom were GPs.

Just over 40% were 50 or over.

Pension revamp call

All types of doctors questioned thought the NHS pension scheme should be improved.

Dr Simon Fradd, chairman of the BMA's superannuation committee, said: "It is significant that doctors felt that pension changes could be helpful with retention in particular, and less so for recruitment.

The two sides need to talk to each other

Mike Stone, Patients' Association

"The scale of the response, and the way in which doctors differentiated between the various proposals, gives the survey weight and authority.

"I have written to health minister John Hutton urging him to listen to what doctors are saying because this can actually help the government to achieve its NHS Plan staffing objectives."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We welcome any initiatives which enable us better to tailor proposals to improve recruitment and retention of GPs and others."

He added: "We note the reported views of GPs regarding golden goodbyes.

"We are discussing a number of pension and recruitment and retention issues with the BMA's GPs' Committee."

'Talks needed'

Mike Stone, chief executive of the Patients Association, commented: "The two sides need to talk to each other.

"There's an acceptance that doctors aren't getting a very good deal at the moment, which can be seen with so many doctors retiring.

"This has a knock-on effect on how long it takes for a patient to see a doctor and how long they can take.

"The government needs to take doctors seriously in terms of what they are asking."

Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: "No amount of `bribes' from the government can make up for the failure to invest in training extra doctors five years ago.

"Doctors have been bombarded with paperwork and gimmicky initiatives and retention has suffered.

"There are no quick solutions to the problems in recruitment and retention of GPs, which have been ignored for too long. The government must get real."