As reported by the Royal College of General Practitioners, nearly a third of England’s GPs may leave the profession amid record workloads and high stress, with the RCGP calling on the government to boost recruitment and retention
GPs in England delivered a record 386 million appointments last year – more than a million a day – yet the workforce has barely grown, with just 387 more fully qualified, full-time GPs than in 2019.
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) warns that nearly a third of family doctors may quit general practice within five years, raising fears of a “mass exodus” from the profession.
Its annual GP Voice survey of more than 2,100 GPs and trainees found that unmanageable stress is widespread, with over a quarter saying they feel unable to cope at least once a week. Stress was the leading reason cited by those considering leaving, mentioned by 44% of respondents, while 39% said they planned to retire.
The College blamed excessive workloads and unnecessary bureaucracy for pushing GPs to the brink. Nearly three quarters of doctors surveyed said patient safety was being put at risk because of workload pressures, and fewer than three in ten felt they had enough time with patients to deliver quality care.
The RCGP is urging the government to use its upcoming 10-Year Workforce Plan to set out concrete targets to expand, train and retain the GP workforce to ensure safe, timely care for patients.
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