One in three GPs in England do not work in the NHS, with increasing numbers seeking to move abroad or becoming a private contractor.
The proportion of family doctors who, although qualified, do not provide care through the NHS has risen from 27% in 2015 to 34% last year, according to a study published in the BMJ.
That means almost 20,000 GPs who could be working in the health service are “lost” to it and are not doing so, despite unprecedented demand for care and many government initiatives to try to increase GP numbers.
GPs are also threatening winter strikes over Wes Streeting’s plan to reform the NHS, many GPs only work part time, and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) reported that two GP surgeries are now closing every week, totalling a loss of 1,000 practices since 2018.
We’re keen to hear from GPs who have been either reducing their hours or are planning to, and why. We’d also like to hear from GPs who have left their profession altogether or are planning to, and why, and what they have been or will be doing instead.
