Warning Of GP Crisis

The BMA have found a third of family doctors are considering retirement.

Almost one third of Scottish GPs say that they are hoping to retire in the next five years, according to a new BMA survey which also found that 14% of GPs are intending to move to part time working.

The survey results, which are part of a UK-wide survey of the GP profession, provides a comprehensive picture of the ‘state of the profession’ in Scotland.

Key results for Scotland include:

- 69% of GPs said workload had a negative impact on their personal commitment to a career in general practice.

- 80% of GPs said that they experienced significant levels of work related stress, although 69% of those felt it was manageable.

- 32% of GPs said they intended to retire from general practice while 14% said they intended to move to part time working.  28% said they did not wish to change their role.

- 53% of GPs said they would recommend a career in general practice.

Just under 40% of the 4918 GPs working in Scotland responded to the survey. The BMA has already warned of an imminent recruitment crisis as a recent survey of GP practices found that one in five (20%) of all practices in Scotland have one vacancy*.  Doctors’ leaders say that urgent action is needed to improve recruitment and retention to general practice. 

Dr Andrew Buist, deputy chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP committee, said: "General practice appears to be on the brink of a workforce crisis.  The prospect of the relentless and rising workload along with the frustrations of bureaucracy is driving doctors out of the profession and putting young doctors off entering general practice.

"However, more than 50% of GPs in Scotland would recommend a career in general practice so we know that many people still see it as a thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable job, but the pressures of the day to day job are dampening that enthusiasm and leading to a burnout within the profession."

Last week, Scottish GP leaders warned that the rising workload in general practice was affecting the quality of care provided to patients and called for an increase in the number of GPs to enable them to spend more time with patients.