Adding up the figures for fully qualified GPs working in the UK (i.e. excluding GP registrars) we arrive at a figure of 41,460. The GMC publishes the total number of GPs registered on their database and arrive at a figure of approximately 57,000 (changes daily). The difference between the two suggests the total number of locum GPs, and this figure is approximately 15,500.

A total figure for all Sessional GPs i.e. non-practice based GPs (salaried, retainers and locums) is 22,500 – that’s 40% of all GPs!

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15,756 registered GPs represent 28% of the UK’s GP workforce, yet none of these GPs appear anywhere on any official government statistics.

This raises many questions, including:

1. How does the profession represent these GPs?
2. Will this have an effect on the resources allocated for Revalidation?
3. Assuming the Department of Health does not know about these GPs, then how can it make plans for future manpower resources and training?
4. If 28% of all GPs practise out with traditional salaried posts or partnerships, what is the profession and Department of Health doing to engage these 15,756 GPs into the clinical governance systems of the NHS?

28% of all GPs work outside a managed organisation; the government and profession needs to ensure that its resources are allocated equitably, and reassurance given to patients that the quality and professional welfare of its locum GPs is not being ignored.

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© NASGP 2009