More than four in five GPs in England cannot find work and a third are having to leave the NHS because they cannot make ends meet, a study has found.
A survey of 1,852 locums carried out by the British Medical Association (BMA) found that 84% cannot find work despite patients across the country waiting weeks for a GP appointment.
The research also found that more than half are considering a career change due to a lack of work, while a third (33%) have made firm plans to work in another career outside the NHS.
Just under a third (31%) of respondents said the lack of suitable services was causing them to leave the NHS completely, while 71% said the government funding model was responsible for unemployment.
More than half of GP appointments are now carried out by non-GP practice staff as they are cheaper, meaning locums cannot find work. The BMA says this is due to the government’s model for funding GP practices, which means many are unable to hire GPs through these funds.
A previous survey by the BMA also found that more than half of practices (54%) reported cash flow issues affecting their day-to-day operations, meaning they could not afford locum cover.
Anna*, a locum GP from Dorset who has worked in the NHS for more than 25 years, said she started having problems getting services in December 2023.
“My contract expired in December last year and I realized there was very little work available so I couldn’t choose where or when I worked. I had to take what was available,” she said.
She has since had to take on other work, such as tutoring GCSE students, because the lack of local GP work meant she was struggling financially.
“It has made me very sad and frustrated. I feel like I’ve lost my purpose,” Anna said. “But after almost 30 years of service I have been driven out of the NHS by a government scheme that prevents GP practices from employing GPs – it is maddening.”
She added: “When I find work I hear from patients all day long saying they want to go to a GP, and I think I’m a GP, and I’m here, but I’m watching TV during the day while you’re at home and is concerned about your health. Something is wrong.”
Dr. Mark Steggles, chair of the BMA’s GP committee, said the “shocking” results of the survey showed the level of stress and worry GPs are experiencing as a result of not being able to find enough work.
Steggles said: “In addition to the stress and worry it causes them, this, combined with the lack of NHS salaries and partnering opportunities, leaves us in the ridiculous situation where so many patients are denied the opportunity to see a GP, Even though there are general practitioners who want to work and care for them.”
He added: “On the one hand we have thousands of GPs in England who are desperate to work more but are being pushed into careers outside the NHS. On the other hand, patients in pain and in need of care are waiting record periods before they can see a primary care physician.
“It is difficult to understand how the NHS – a once world-renowned healthcare service – has reached this point where thousands of highly skilled doctors can no longer find suitable work and patients are suffering.”
Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of BMA England’s GP committee, said the government’s funding model for GP practices was “ridiculous” and was leaving many unable to fund GPs despite demand.
“We have made it clear to the government that this needs to change so that we can get more GPs working in local practices,” said Bramall-Stainer.
“We’re hearing lots of promises in the run-up to the election about increasing the number of GPs, but the first challenge for the next government will be to find a way to retain the GPs we already have in the NHS. To run a bath, you must first plug it in; this is basic workforce planning.”
The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.
*Name has been changed