Some 9,765 GPs, GP trainees and retired GPs have called on the Health Secretary to address the GP workforce crisis urgently in a new open letter from the RCGP.
“It is absurd that some GPs are now struggling to find work when patients are crying out to see their GP,” Prof Hawthorne wrote. “A well-funded general practice service, staffed with enough GPs, will alleviate pressures across the NHS.”
RCGP chair Prof Kamila Hawthorne delivered the letter earlier this week.
Last week leaders at the Doctor’s Association UK, an independent group of grassroots GPs, launched their own open letter. Writing to Lord Darzi, they called on him to ‘significantly’ uplift general practice.
“We really cannot continue to run on fumes,” authors wrote. “We need a commitment from NHSE and the government to significantly uplift core funding and continue to do so in line with inflation.”
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “Any increase in practice funding should firstly be used to make best use of existing fully trained and experienced GP locums, that research shows provide the same quality of care as our incumbent colleagues. As well as maintaining quality, this will immediately resolve most if not all access issues, and reduce workload for GP partners and salaried GPs – assuming we have enough consulting rooms.
“Then, junior doctors, rather than being put off by the current dire job prospects in general practice, will be queuing up again to train as GPs. A simple plan, but it might just work.”