A looming crisis in general practice may be “deeper and more imminent” than anyone has so far anticipated, according to an in-depth study published today.

Researchers found that about 40% of GPs are planning to leave their jobs in the next five years in the south west of England. And many more want to cut their working commitments.

This figure comes from a large-scale survey of headed by Professor John Campbell of Exeter University, UK,

The survey showed that about 70% of GPs plan to change their working patterns in a way that would result in less contact with patients, such as leaving patient care, taking a career break, or cutting their hours.

These findings “expose the magnitude of the region’s impending health care crisis”, say the researchers in today’s (12 April) BMJ Open.

If this reflects the feeling among GPs in other regions, it could point to “a deeper and more imminent crisis than previously anticipated”,

More than 2,000 GPs responded to Professor Campbell’s survey.

He said today: “We carried out this survey because of a nationally recognised crisis in the shortage of GPs across the country, and our findings show an even bleaker outlook than expected for GP cover, even in an area which is often considered desirable, and which has many rural communities.”

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, commented: “Being a GP can be the best job in the world, but it needs to be resourced appropriately. We support the researcher’s call to move away from ‘sticking plaster’ solutions to the crisis facing general practice to one that will keep our important service sustainable for years to come.”

Dr Krishna Kasaraneni, of the British Medical Association’s GP committee added: “We need the government to take the evidence of a workforce crisis seriously and act to implement a long term, well-funded plan that results in more GPs being available to treat the public.”

Source: Fletcher, E. et al. Quitting patient care and career break intentions among general practitioners in South West England: findings of a census survey of general practitioners. BMJ Open 12 April 2017