Our database is constantly updated with hundreds of positions throughout the UK and globally. Let us know your perfect role & we will send you daily job updates.
Doctors of tomorrow are the answer GP’s have been waiting for
In recent weeks the anticipated report by the Health Education England (HEE) on recruitment and retention of GP’s in the UK was published with little celebration. This was followed shortly after by a paper released by the Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) which provided a detailed review and insight into the GP workforce.
Not only have these reports drawn in a large amount of media attention, they have similarly confirmed the state of recruitment in UK GP’s. The key question that needs to be asked is will the government finally take note of this crisis that is rapidly hitting how GP’s deliver?
The HEE report in particular raises many valid points and asks some slightly uncomfortable questions. It recognises financial support is required in particular to under-doctored areas. But it also questions why doctors leave practice so early.
It therefore doesn’t come as a surprise why there was such as delay in the release of the report.
Spelling out the solution
While there may be plenty of recommendations for the government to front, this however will not solve many of the underlying issues that face doctors, namely the funding crisis and the workload. GP’s are getting pressures from all angles and is having a huge effect on them. In a recent BMA survey it revealed that six out of ten local GP’s are already considering early retirements with a third of GP’s actively planning for the future. The main reason is that the working life’s of a GP in the 21 century is intolerable but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Doing more for less
GP’s are being asked to do far more for less, often in an outdated building that has been starved of investment. Patients are equally sharing their frustration as doctors are finding it difficult to provide appointments for every patient who walks through the door of the practice every day.
The growth in the GP sector is far too slow and is proving difficult to recruit trainee GP’s. Sonia Browne, director of Dream Medicalcomments “It should be the responsibility of the NHS to put measures in place to make becoming a GP attractive. Innovative ideas include funding student GP’s in certain areas and providing plenty of on-the-job training opportunities for student doctors who lack experience”.
Lots of GP’s would say the answer is a simple one but desperate solutions are needed; curtailing the workload should be a priority. As a matter of urgency the investment in staff should be increased – and not just GP’s but also healthcare assistants, administration staff and nurses who do an absolute sterling job every single day.
As previously mentioned an investment in getting our buildings into the 21st century would make perfect business sense and action is required before it is too late.
The safety of patients are paramount but the ratio of patients to doctors has increased to a dangerous level, much higher than is clinically safe and doctors all over the country feel this is compromising the standard of care that patients desperately need.
The doctors of tomorrow need to become the doctors of today.