Paget's disease of bone.

paid study leave is not available and child care expenses may also have to be met. Since April 1991 regional postgraduate deans have been given funds for postgraduate medical education for those on the scheme, and the amount allocated to each doctor varies across the regions but is usually inadequate to cover the required seven educational sessions. Since the inception of the postgraduate education allowance in 1990 for principals the cost of providing courses has risen rapidly. The need for continuing postgraduate education for a doctor on the retainer scheme is as great as that for any general practitioner. A mechanism must exist whereby the cost barrier can be overcome either by giving a free "pass" for educational activities, increasing the amounts payable by the postgraduate deans, or increasing the retainer fee. Doctors whose domestic commitments make them temporarily unable to devote themselves fully to their medical careers need an effective and fair deal.