The target to increase GP numbers by 5,000 within three years is “unachievable”, according to the British Medical Association’s committee chair. The pledge was originally part of the Conservative party’s manifesto for the 2015 election. Dr Richard Vautrey said the government must “urgently address the underlying issues, particularly the unsafe workload pressure, behind the recruitment and retention crisis”.
In their annual report, The Royal College of GPs has warned that people in the profession “could reach breaking point” as recruitment numbers fell since September 2016. In five years’ time, 39% of GPs in England think they are unlikely to be working in the profession, according to a survey for the report.
Share your experiences
We want to hear from GPs about the pressures on the sector. What everyday challenges do you face? Do you think the government pledge is unfeasible? What changes would you like to see? Are you are thinking about leaving the profession if the recruitment crisis is not addressed?
You can share your stories, anonymously if you prefer, in the form below. The form is encrypted and only the Guardian can see your responses. We will feature some of them in our reporting.
