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Two in five GPs could quit soon with money 'not worth' the workload

Record numbers of GP practices are closing, new figures show 
Record numbers of GP practices are closing, new figures show

Two in five GPs could quit within five years in some parts of the country, a report shows, amid complaints that six figure earnings are not worth the risk of “burnout”.

Polling of family doctors, published in BMJ Open, found the vast majority intend to spend less time on patient care in future, with retirement, career breaks and part-time working being considered by seven in ten.

Family doctors said the findings from 2,000 GPs in the South West of England reflect a crisis in general practice as a result of growing workload pressures.

Last week new figures revealed record number of GPs practices are closing, following a rise in the number of doctors retiring early before a tax clampdown on pension pots.

The number of practices closing has risen five fold since 2013, with 92 such closures last year.

Researchers said the new study suggested the country was reaching a “perilous situation” in a crisis which was “deeper and more imminent” than previously anticipated.

 

 

NHS 
The NHS is under unprecedented pressure

Health officials have embarked on a national recruitment drive, to try to encourage young doctors into general practice, with £20,000 “golden hellos” to train as a GP.

But doctors suggested the incentives, along with average earnings of £100,000 for a GP partner were not sufficient to entice many to enter or stay in the job.

Dr Richard Holman said: “A major problem is GP pay – GP locums can earn the same or more than a partner and don’t have the worry of running a practice or have to do any of the huge mountain of paperwork, worry about targets, etc.”

The GP, from Queen’s Medical Centre, Barnstaple, North Devon, said it was “crazy” that long-service bonuses given to GPs were being phased out

“No emerging GPs will want to become partners if there is not a clear and significant increase in pay corresponding to the vast extra responsibility and workload,” he said.

Why is the NHS under so much pressure? |

Figures published last month show there has been a drop in the number of GPs working in the NHS despite Government aims to recruit 5,000 more by 2020.

Professor John Campbell, a GP who led the research, said the new findings were “even bleaker” than he had feared. "If GPs have similar intentions to leave or reduce their hours in other regions, as many are reporting, the country needs to take robust action more swiftly and urgently than previously thought,” he said.

 

In numbers | Worsening access to GP surgeries

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: "Despite successful efforts to recruit more family doctors, and make it easier for people to return to practice after a career break or period working abroad, we are still haemorrhaging highly trained, experienced GPs at an alarming rate.

"General practice is currently facing intense workload and resource pressures - these figures show it is severely impacting our workforce, and we fear they are indicative of the situation right across the UK," she added. 

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "This sample survey was carried out before we launched our world-leading plan to improve conditions in general practice - so it doesn't take into account our steps to improve morale and retention by investing £2.4 billion more into primary care, making extra payments to GPs, and cutting red tape while increasing flexible working.

"To ease future workforce pressures, we are also now training the highest number of GPs since records began."

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