While the Government has recently highlighted that 1,503 more GPs have been recruited to the workforce since October 2024, it should be noted that only 851 of these GPs are working full-time hours. More work is needed to address barriers to GPs entering the profession after qualifying. We must ensure there is enough opportunities for medical graduates in the UK, and avoid losing their expertise to countries such as Australia.
The Government has stated that it will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places – including GPs - meets the demands of the NHS in future, but it has not confirmed whether the revised Long Term Workforce Plan will include a detailed plan for meeting demand for training and resolving competition ratios in the NHS.
The Government must build on existing recruitment and retention schemes, such as the GP Retention Scheme, and the GP Retention Fund. Through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, a wider range of healthcare professionals in general practice have also been recruited since 2019, such as first contact physiotherapists, paramedics and pharmacists.
Following the Spending Review and 10-Year Health Plan, it is vital that the Government provides general practice with the funding it needs to help practices recruit more GPs.
I want to express my gratitude for the work carried out by general practice (GP) nurses across our community.
As self-employed contractors to the NHS, it is for GPs to determine employee pay, but the Government has stated that all practices should pass on the 4 per cent pay increase to all staff - including nursing staff - for 2025/26. I understand that the Government has also provided funding to Primary Care Networks to cover a 3.6 per cent pay rise for nursing staff employed under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme.
