GP vacancies drop by 44%

As reported by Pulse, recent survey reveals a significant 44% reduction in advertised GP vacancies since November 2022, prompting concerns among GP leaders who attribute the decline to factors such as increased success in hiring through ARRS and challenges in resource availability

Requests for GP locums within primary care settings ‘have reduced since the summer’ with ‘various new ARRS roles coming to the forefront at surgeries’, and locums have been asked to consider reducing their rates to secure work.

The survey, which was carried out last week and included partners from across the UK, found that alongside a reduction from last November, there has also been a 23% reduction in the number of vacancies since May this year.

GP leaders attributed this reduction in vacancies to a number of factors, including an increase in the ARRS success in hiring staff and a lack of resources and space to house GPs.

The survey also showed that 62% of partners reported an increase in the use of pharmacists by their practice, and an increase in the use of other roles.

This comes at a time when GP numbers are remaining stable, with October 2023 NHS Digital figures in England revealing a 0.4% year-on-year decrease in fully qualified full-time equivalent (FTE) GPs.

Dr Malinga Ratwatte, chair of the BMA’s GP registrars committee, said: ‘The sentiment that we are hearing from the ground from senior registrars, as well as recently qualified GPs who have just finished their training, is that they are finding it more and more difficult to find work – salaried jobs as well as locum work.

‘In the last few years GPs have recognised that the intensity of the work means that they find it difficult to work “full time” – the definition of that is variable.

‘I think GPs have sought to mitigate this by taking up different roles as part of a portfolio career, and that has been a way to retain the workforce to some extent.

‘But with the increase in the ARRS , the amount of work available as well as salaried jobs has actually decreased.

‘Our fear is that because those opportunities are no longer available, it’s probably going to drive an exodus of GPs out the profession and out of the country potentially.

‘We are worried that the expansion of ARRS roles is going to exacerbate the workforce crisis, and we are worried we are travelling in the wrong direction.’