What Can Be Done About The Current GP Trainee Shortage?

A recent report from the Health Education England has confirmed that GP recruitment levels are well below target and England’s GP workforce is actually shrinking.  This news is worrying, though it accurately reflects the thoughts of GP leaders, who have been concerned about the growing pressures on primary care in recent years.  But why are the levels of doctors falling?

·         Many doctors are retiring and wish to take a step back from the demands of full-time general practice

·         A growing number of doctors are leaving the service to start families and are taking time out to raise their young children

·         Many trainees are choosing to specialise in a particular area as opposed to joining general practice

·         Growing numbers of trainees are not completing their training on time

Health Education England’s report, known as ‘Securing the Future GP Workforce’, has a number of suggestions on how to rectify the current GP trainee shortage:

·         GP recruitment has been stuck at just 2,700 per year in recent years, however this target needs to increase to 3,250

·         The number of speciality training posts may need to be cut in order to ensure that medical graduates undertake general practice training

·         General practice needs to be promoted more widely as a career to students at secondary school as well as medical school.  Encouraging medical students to consider general practice during their foundation training may also help to increase recruitment levels.

The report strongly outlines the need to reduce the number of trainees in speciality areas in order to support the Government’s plan to transfer care away from hospitals.  Changes will need to be made in terms of education investment and a carefully devised plan will need to be put into place in order for appropriate timescales to be met.

Whilst many GPs may be looking to reduce their hours in order to improve their work-life balance, working on a locum basis may be a practical option.  Doctors who are approaching retirement age and wish to work on a part-time basis, or parents of young children who wish to work flexible hours which can fit around their family may find that locum work can fit in to their lifestyle.  This solution can also benefit the NHS as an increased number of doctors can stay within general practice, helping to ease the current GP shortage.

To find out more about life as a locum GP or to find out how to register with a locum GP agency, feel free to take a look at the Locum Select website.