Workloads forcing GPs out of practice

More than half of GPs are considering early retirement because of extremely heavy workloads, a poll suggests.

Fifty-seven per cent of family doctors have considered retiring early, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).

Its small survey of 420 family doctors found that 54 per cent of general practitioners believed their current workload to be “unsustainable”.

And 55 per cent said their morale was “low” or “very low”.

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Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the BMA’s GP committee, said: “It is clear general practice is facing a workload disaster that is threatening its long term future.

“We are seeing morale dip to a level that I cannot remember in my 25 years as a GP.

“Six out of 10 GPs are considering early retirement and more than a third are actively planning to end their career early.

“This could lead to a serious workforce crisis in general practice where we do not have enough GPs to treat patients.

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“The root cause of this crisis is that GP practices are facing an unprecedented combination of rising patient demand, especially from an ageing population, and declining resources.

“The Government is also asking GP practices to provide more services, including many involving the transfer of hospital care into the community, without the resources required to successfully deliver them.

“We need politicians to realise that in order to meet the challenges facing general practice, we need to value the hard work GPs are undertaking.

“This includes expanding the number of GPs so that patients are given the time and care that they deserve. Most importantly, the Government needs to work with all healthcare professionals and patients to find practical solutions to a crisis that is threatening to overwhelm general practice.”