Work pressure drives hundreds of GPs to leave profession

The Royal College of GPs has said that latest figures from the NHS have shown that the number of GPs fell from 34,091 in September to 33,872 in December, adding that many are leaving the profession as the ‘pressure has become too much’.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, the chairwoman of The RCGP, said that although GP workload had increased by over 16% in the last seven years, the number of doctors had not risen in line with this.  She went on to say that measures needed to be taken to retain existing GPs and attract new ones and that patients were suffering from there being fewer family doctors.

“This is very disappointing news – and frustrating as even a small drop in GP numbers can have a huge ripple effect on hard-working GPs, our teams and the care we are able to give our patients.

“GPs are currently facing intense resource pressures, and we desperately need more doctors if we stand any chance of turning this crisis around.

“For some, the pressure has become too much and it’s genuinely awful that some GPs are prematurely leaving a profession which, when properly resourced and funded, can be so rewarding and fulfilling.

“GPs are the cornerstone of our NHS – a system which is the envy of the world – but there is a limit to what we can do and there simply aren’t enough of us to deliver the safe care our patients need and deserve.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence compensation claims and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation, we also represent clients nationally.

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

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.

Freephone: 0800 304 7382