The Government is due to announce its solution to the relentless decline in GP numbers on Friday, it has emerged.

New figures show the number of qualified GPs continues to fall in spite of significant increases in trainee numbers. New data also shows how small numbers of primary care staff are now shifting to direct employment in primary care networks.

The NHS England data shows a reduction of 427 full time equivalent GPs in the year to March, a 1.5% reduction.
The total number of doctors working in general practice increased by 1.6%, a total of 569, because of rising trainee numbers. NHS England also reported that 130 GPs are now directly employed by primary care networks which also employ 948 managers. There are 1,271 primary care networks – and the data suggests that most of their staff are working part-time.

The bulk of network staff are other direct patient care staff. There were 18,698 of these in primary care networks in May, including 990 physician associates, mostly working full-time. There are 22,236 of these staff employed directly by practices, including 744 physician associates.

Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said: “These latest figures show how GPs and our teams are continuing to work exceptionally hard in the face of intense workload and workforce pressures to ensure our patients receive safe, timely and appropriate care. Demand for our services is growing, both in volume and complexity, and GP teams are delivering millions of appointments per month – but we are doing this with 930 fewer GPs compared to December 2019.

“Unfortunately, these problems are decades in the making – in some areas a qualified GP is now responsible for more than 2,500 patients. Practices that serve communities with the greatest health needs, such as the elderly and populations with health inequalities are particularly over-stretched. We know that when GPs do leave the profession earlier than planned, it is often due to their own burnout, low morale and a sense of moral distress at not being able to offer patients access to much needed care.

“The bottom line is that we need many more GPs , but it’s not too late to turn this dire situation around. The long-awaited NHS workforce plan will be a key opportunity to do this. We need to see a bold new plan from the Government that goes beyond the target of 6,000 more GPs it pledged in its election manifesto, while also revitalising retention schemes to encourage excellent, hardworking and dedicated GPs to remain in the profession.”

The workforce plan is expected to double the number of medical school places. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said it will “streamline the journey from classroom to clinic” and that it will involve training, retention and reform.