By Charlotte Webster-
Around a third of GPs are set to quit their positions in the next five years according to a new study.
The study conducted by researchers at the University of Manchester revealed that three in five (60%) of GPs over the age of 50 plan to hang up their stethoscopes by 2026.
Researchers also said that a “worrying” 16% of GPs under the age of 50 were already making plans to leave the profession.
Nearly a third (31%) of GPs say they are ‘unlikely’ to still be working in general practice in five years’ time, with stress cited as the main reason, the RCGP has found.
The college surveyed 1,094 GPs in England, also finding that swathes of practices are set to close, amid vast issues with recruitment.
The survey found that 5% of GPs report that their practice is likely to close in the next year (not practices that are merging with others).
Researchers found that 37% of GPs reported that in the practice where they work, there are GP vacancies that have been open for more than three months.
The college has also analyzed workforce data to see which areas are facing the largest rises and decreases in GP numbers.
The academics found a dip in job satisfaction between 2019 and 2021, with just over half (51%) saying they were satisfied with their job in 2021.
Increasing workloads, increased demands from patients and having “insufficient time to do the job justice”.
The poll of almost 2,300 family doctors working in England found that paperwork was causing stress as were long working hours and dealing with “problem patients”.
More than eight out of 10 GPs have reported experiencing considerable or high pressure from increasing workloads and increased demands from patients.
Professor Kath Checkland from the University of Manchester, who led the study, said: “It is not really surprising that job satisfaction has dropped amongst GPs during the pandemic, but the survey provides some evidence about the areas of work they are finding more stressful, which may help in designing ways to support them.
“The fact that 16% of GPs under the age of 50 are thinking about leaving their jobs is worrying, and suggests that work is still needed to ensure that general practice is sustainable for the long term.”
Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “General practice was under considerable strain before the pandemic, but the crisis has exacerbated this.
“These findings show a profession working under intense workload and workforce pressures, doing their best for patients in the most difficult of circumstances.
“It’s concerning to see any GP leaving the profession earlier than they planned, particularly in such high numbers, but it’s especially worrying to see so many family doctors planning to leave relatively early in their careers.
“This should be a wake-up call that we need to see robust plans implemented to retain highly-trained, experienced GPs in the workforce – and key to this will be tackling work.
RCGP chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said: ‘This is gravely concerning. We are talking about highly-trained, highly-skilled doctors, that the NHS is at risk of losing – some will retire, which is to be expected, but many are planning to leave earlier than they otherwise would have done.
‘All GPs are overworked, many are stressed, and some are making themselves seriously ill working hours that are simply unsafe, for both themselves and their patients – it is making them want to leave the profession.’
BMA GP Committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: ‘These findings are alarming and will cause a great deal of worry for patients who would be forced to find a new practice.
‘While GPs strive to provide high quality care to all of their patients, statistics such as this speak volumes to the huge amount of pressure they are under; rising demand from a growing population with increasingly complex conditions means that workload is nearing insurmountable levels.
‘Given the stress this causes and impact that it has on doctors’ wellbeing, it is unsurprising that many are questioning their own futures and the future of their practices.’