New analysis shows that GPs are spread thin in areas across the UK, the Lib Dems have found.
At best, Liverpool CCG has one GP for every 1,614 people. But Fylde and Wyre CCG has 2,833 people for every GP. There is on average one GP per 2,038 people in England.
National data compiled by the Liberal Democrats, and based on analysis by the House of Commons Library, looked at all Clinical Governance Authorities in England, The Independent reports.
Recent analysis from the BMA shows there are more than 1,800 fewer fully qualified, full-time equivalent GPs now than there were in 2015. Between June 2020 and July 2021, the number of GP partners fell by 918.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of NASGP, said: “These data paint one or two interesting pictures. On the one hand, they suggest inequality in terms of how general practice is able to support healthcare in different parts of the country.
“And also, bearing in mind how patchy the counting of GP locums is, we can only guess the actual total headcount, and full-time equivalent, of all GPs, including all locums.
“It is reassuring that the Liberal Democrats are highlighting this possible inequality, but now they need to focus on providing a complete picture of how many of the GMC’s 74,000 licenced GPs actually work as locums.”
