More than 3,000 GPs have signed an open letter from the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) to request that the government ringfences GP funding ‘at all career stages’, Pulse reports.
GPs have requested that the funding be ringfenced within the government’s 10-year workforce plan that is currently under consultation.
While the letter does not explicitly mention sessional GPs, salaried GPs or GP locums, it did cite research by the RCGP that found that 67% of final-year GP registrars said that they felt there were not enough suitable jobs anywhere in the country, and 62% were considering leaving the UK for work.
Like the RCGP, the NASGP has repeatedly called for ARRS funding restrictions to be lifted so that practices can use the funding to employ sessional GPs with experience as well as newly-qualified GPs. The NASGP also backs calls for a national GP retention strategy.
Earlier this month first-year resident doctors (FY1s) voted for a mandate for GP industrial action as part of their own ongoing pay dispute. On Thursday 16 October the BMA ran an online meeting for GPs experiencing under- and unemployment.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “I wholeheartedly support the RCGP’s call for ring-fenced GP funding at all career stages. This is essential, but it must explicitly recognise and support the sessional GP workforce, including both salaried and locum colleagues.
“Many of our members are currently struggling with un- and underemployment in certain parts of the UK, despite offering critical flexibility and invaluable insights gained from working across numerous practices.
“To stop the haemorrhage of highly experienced GPs, and prevent the loss of precious talent, restrictions on ARRS funding must be removed immediately. I urge all sessional GPs to contribute their experiences to our submission to the workforce consultation, ensuring our voices are heard on behalf of our members.”
