One in five GPs plans to change career due to work shortages, a new survey of over 1,400 by the BMA has found.
Some 1426 GPs responded to the survey by 17 February, three in four of whom were sessional GPs (GP locums, 39%, and salaried GPs 36%).
Of the 47% ‘expecting to make changes’, 43% plan to leave to take clinical jobs outside the NHS, 40% may work abroad and 38% plan to leave clinical work altogether.
Dr Mark Steggles, chair of the BMA’s sessional GP committee, said: “At a time of immense pressure on the NHS, and patients waiting too long to be seen, it’s ridiculous that so many GPs can’t find work.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “The government has been warned about this crisis for over a year, and we still haven’t seen them take anything but the slightest action to retain GPs.
“Without steps to increase funding to these GPs, the NHS will lose them for good. Our own data shows that locum opportunities are improved significantly where ICBs adopt platforms to enable practices to book direct, but only up to a point.
“Most importantly, the government should urgently increase funding and open the ARRS scheme to all GPs, at the least, as well as make substantial concessions in the GP contract negotiations.”
The BMA has encouraged GPs to write to their MPs on the issue.