GPs who want to quit are to be offered a new career choice in a series of pilot schemes, it was announced yesterday.
Some 11 areas of the country will test the new idea.
Between them they will be expected to find 80 doctors “at risk” of leaving the profession.
These doctors will be offered the chance of working in a GP pool, providing clinical cover for sickness and holidays and providing support for practices in crisis.
The project was announced as NHS England unveiled is NHS GP Service, which began work yesterday.
The pilot scheme was welcomed by the Royal College of GPs.
Chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said it was “something spearheaded by the College as we outlined five ideas to better retain the GP workforce in a letter to the Secretary of State for Health last year.
Experienced GPs have so much to offer our profession and our patients, and incentives to keep them practising on the front line of patient care for as long as possible will be to the benefit of general practice, the wider NHS and most importantly our patients.
She added: “We now need to see similar schemes – as part of wider commitments to increase investment in general practice and build GP number – in Scotland, Wales and NI.”
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