Growing numbers of GP trainees are planning to quit medicine because of the “unsustainable” workload they have seen experienced by fully qualified GPs, according to a new survey.

Many others are planning to work less than full time as they believe that reduced hours will still be the equivalent of full time work, according to the latest survey by the King’s Fund. The findings led the Royal College of GPs to step up calls for more action to improve retention of doctors working in general practice. Some 340 trainees took part in the survey, which has been conducted annually since 2016. 82% said they were concerned about the intensity of the workload and 65% about work-related stress. 75% were concerned about the volume of administrative work.

Researcher Dr Holly Young, a GP trainee, said there was a ten percentage increase in the number of trainees planning not to do clinical work within five years – or being unsure of plans. 41% of the doctors said they intended to work no more than six sessions a week after qualifying.

Dr Young writes: “Solving the GP workforce crisis will require a break in the vicious cycle of clinicians leaving the workforce due to workload pressures, which in turn increases the pressures on those GPs who remain. While many trainees who responded to the survey had positive experiences of training, they highlighted significant concerns for the future after qualification.”

RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said: “Sadly, these survey results show that even from the early stages of their training, too many GP trainees are now being exposed to the same huge pressures that their experienced colleagues are having to contend with, on a daily basis. Others can see for themselves what the GPs in their practices are having to cope with. We sincerely hope that the present and any future Government will see these alarming figures from the Kings Fund survey as a wake-up call and take urgent action to stop the decline in general practice before it’s too late. It triangulates what we have been saying to Ministers for years now.”