Union warns some GPs struggling to find work

The British Medical Association have warned that some qualified GPs cannot find enough work even at a time of high patent demand for appointments, stating that it has heard from locum doctors in England who are struggling to get shifts at practices.

The BMA have said the situation is “ridiculous”.

Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the BMA Council, said “How is it possible to have thousands of patients needing treatment and GPs available to give that care, but prevented from doing so by a system unable to pay them?”

Some doctors decide to become locum GPs so they can have flexible working patterns, including those who want to do a full working week.

The BMA carried out a self-selecting survey which had over 1,800 responses from locum GP members.  More than 1,500 said they were struggling to find work or had started looking outside the NHS.  According to the union, one has taken work as a freelance GCSE tutor because she could not find enough shifts.

The BMA has argued that the government funding of GP practices in England rose by only 1.9% above inflation in this financial year, and that some are cutting back on posts and funding for temporary staff.

Dr Mark Steggles, BMA sessional GP committee chairman, said “It leaves us in the ridiculous situation where so many patients are being denied the chance to see a GP, even though we have GPs wanting to work and care for them.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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