Three in four sessional GPs report facing ‘unpredictable income or lack of job security’, GPs have told the NASGP this month.
Asked about the biggest challenges that sessional GPs face, 74% said a lack of income stability was their greatest concern.
Over 60 GPs responded to the survey, of which 72% were GP locums.
GPs also warned of the persistent problem of burnout.
“I’m exhausted and fed up of having to do at least 10 hours a week of unpaid overtime to try to keep somewhere near on top of my workload,” one GP said.
“I am trapped: I have to continue working as a GP to keep my other roles that are my main sources of income,” another GP wrote. “I only do the minimum of 40 sessions and I am lucky that at the moment I am able to secure that minimum number.”
Others had already left NHS general practice, or were preparing to leave.
“I have already left most locuming and a salaried job in favour of a role in A&E,” one reported.
“I am leaving due to the lack of positive changes and the worsening conditions,” another wrote.
GPs who responded to the NASGP’s call-out reported feeling disillusioned with GP partnership, particularly due to lack of flexibility.
“I could be a GP partner if there was a part-time enough job share arrangement available,” one GP wrote. “However, partnerships all want six sessions minimum and sadly job shares seem to be no more.” She commented that parenting and caring responsibilities made sessional work a better fit for her.
“It’s an impossible role,” one former GP partner wrote.
The NASGP asked questions to GP members as part of its response to the government’s 10-year workforce plan consultation. The NASGP’s forum for feedback remains open to responses until 31 October.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “Our latest findings reveal the damaging instability gripping the profession: three in four sessional GPs are contending with unpredictable income or a crushing lack of job security.
“This crisis is defined by stark contradictions. We see colleagues forced to undertake at least ten hours of unpaid overtime weekly to manage immense workloads and prevent burnout, yet simultaneously, 56% report unused clinical capacity because they cannot find sufficient work. This systemic failure—where practices desperately need staff, but skilled doctors face widespread un- and underemployment—has been described by members as a ‘ridiculous situation’.
“If we fail to urgently address this profound income insecurity and implement mechanisms to match our flexible workforce to soaring patient demand, we risk losing thousands of experienced GPs for good.”