Shortage amongst GPs -‘a desperate situation’

Official figures released earlier this year showed that around 10,000 general practitioners, around 41 per cent, are now aged 50 or over and are expected to leave the profession within the next five to ten years.

As a result it is estimated that around 2.5 million patients will be at risk of their local surgery closing down because so many doctors are close to retirement.

This comes at a time when decreasing numbers of young doctors are choosing to specialise as GPs and are instead deciding on other career paths, such as surgeons or specialists.

Many GPs are either retiring early, moving abroad or leaving the NHS to work in the private sector because of stress brought about by current pressures, and thereby increasing the pressure on those who are still left in the sector.

Waiting times for appointments are increasing and more people are having to go to Accident and Emergency departments for minor illnesses because they can’t see a doctor at their local surgery.

Chief executive of the Patients Association, recent said “This is a desperate situation with potentially serious consequences for patients.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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