One in four GP posts could be vacant in the next decade

One in four GP posts could be vacant by 2030 if there is no change to current workforce trends and policies, which will pose a significant risk to the quality of patient health care.

The new analysis published by the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre warns the shortage of qualified, permanent GPs is set to get substantially worse over this decade.

There is currently a shortage of around 4,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) GPs, which is projected to rise to around 10,700 FTE GPs in 2030/31, relative to the number needed to meet the rising need for care.

It added that with an increasing number of GPs leaving the profession due to burnout, if newer roles are not successfully integrated in multidisciplinary general practice teams, the projected shortfall could increase to 20,400 FTE GPs, or around half of posts being vacant, in 2030/31.

The analysis found that the shortfall could be limited to around 3,300 GPs (around 1 in 10 posts) by 2030/31 if the government puts in place policies to improve recruitment and retention of family doctors and if more allied health professionals (such as pharmacists and physiotherapists) can be effectively integrated into primary care to reduce pressure on GPs and nurses.

Government is unlikely to reach its target of hiring 6,000 additional GPs

Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research and the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre, said: “England’s GP services are under huge pressure. It’s sobering that over the next decade things are set to get worse, not better, with a growing shortage of GPs and practice nurses. While these issues are not unique to England, it is critical that government takes action to protect general practice and avoid it getting locked in a vicious cycle of rising workload driving staff to leave, in turn creating more pressure on remaining staff and fuelling even more departures. It must also be clear with the public that the way they access general practice will need to change.

“There are steps the government can take to limit the size of the shortfall, but there are no quick fixes. General practice is vital for a high quality and efficient health system, but the pressures it faces are longstanding, significant, and growing. Action is urgently needed to retain existing GPs and practice nurses, and to ensure that sufficient numbers are trained for the future. Beyond this, there needs to be a comprehensive plan for the successful integration of allied health professionals in general practice teams and sufficient capital investment to ensure primary care has the buildings and equipment it needs for the future.”

The REAL Centre’s projections also highlighted that the government is unlikely to reach its target of hiring 6,000 additional GPs by 2023/24 relative to 2018/19.

Under current policy, the REAL Centre estimates that the overall number of GPs might be around 3,000 higher in 2023/24 than in 2018/19, but the number of qualified permanent GPs is projected to have fallen by around 1,000, so any overall increase will be attributable to higher numbers of GP trainees and locums.