Study warns a quarter of England GP posts will be vacant within a decade

Analysis by the Health Foundation suggests the GP shortage in England is set to become worse, with more than one in four posts predicted to be vacant within a decade.

 

The study said the current 4,200 shortfall could rise to over 10,000 by 2030-31.

 

The think tank believes that whilst the demand for GPs will continue to rise, the government will struggle to increase the number, creating a bigger shortfall.

 

The government has pledged to recruit 6,000 additional GPs by 2024, but ministers have admitted they are struggling to achieve that number.

 

According to the current trends, the analysis said that although the numbers entering the profession are on the rise, this will be offset by GPs moving towards part time working or “retiring.

 

The analysis also warned the number of GP nurses is unlikely to increase, although the drive to recruit other health professionals into general practice, such as physiotherapists and pharmacists, will provide a boost.

 

Anita Charlesworth, the Health Foundation’s director of research, said the findings were not unique to England, with pressures being felt elsewhere in the UK.

 

She said “It’s sobering that over the next decade things are set to get worse.  It’s critical that government takes action to protect general practice and avoid it getting locked in a vicious cycle of rising workload driving staff to leave, in turn creating more pressure on remaining staff and fuelling even more departures.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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