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The Royal College of GPs is calling for urgent action as the latest data on the general practice workforce show that GP numbers are flatlining.
It said that with winter approaching – the peak season for patients’ health issues – these latest figures show that primary care is far from prepared with 952 fewer fully qualified, full-time GPs than 2019.
The NHS Confederation also said that leaders are particularly worried about primary care. With there being fewer fully qualified full time equivalent GPs than the same time last year, the government is a way off on delivering its manifesto promise of 5,000 extra before the next election.
General practice workforce is understaffed and overburdened
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs said: “GPs and their teams have been working exceptionally hard, delivering millions of appointments per month. These pressures look set to continue for the foreseeable future as GPs deal with a growing workload, both in the volume of patients and the complexity of their illnesses, over the coming months.
“Many GPs are experiencing burnout, low morale and a sense of moral distress at not being able to offer patients access to much-needed care. We know that when GPs do leave the profession earlier than planned, it is often due to the pressures of the role which results in a vicious cycle effect, whereby the workloads of those who remain in practice intensify. College surveys have shown that this cycle is likely to get worse, with many of our fully-qualified GPs considering leaving general practice in the next five years.
“The simple fact is that we need many more GPs to ensure that patients receive the care they need and deserve. General practice is understaffed and overburdened and we need to see policymakers take immediate steps to turn this dire situation around – introducing significant investment for improved retention initiatives to curb the rate at which GPs are leaving the profession and encouraging the next generation of GPs into the workforce.”