Record number of GPs recruited after first round
Recruitment into GP specialty training has hit a record high, according to figures released by Health Education England today.
The GP specialty training fill rate for the first round of recruitment has increased by 2% compared to this time last year.
The figures revealed that 2,598 trainees were accepted this round compared with 2,533 at the same stage as last year. HEE reports they are hopeful they will again meet their target of recruiting 3250 trainees.
Last year, the target was surpassed for the first time when Matt Hancock announced that nearly 3,500 trainees had been recruited, a 10% increase from the previous year.
HEE deputy medical director for primary care Professor Simon Gregory said: ‘After our record-breaking year last year when we exceeded our target, we are delighted that trainees are continuing to apply for GP specialty training in such large numbers. It shows that our campaign to highlight General Practice as a rewarding, sustainable, flexible career is having a great impact.
‘It’s great that so many doctors are choosing a career in general practice. Many of our educators are telling us that the calibre of applicants is also high which is great news. I would like to thank everyone who is working hard to promote GP Specialty Training.
RCGP chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said the numbers were ‘excellent news.’
She said: ‘It’s hugely encouraging to see that a record number of doctors are choosing a career in general practice, helping to provide high-quality care to thousands of patients every day.
‘Being a GP can be the best job in the world – it’s dynamic, varied, intellectually-stimulating and enormously rewarding – as long as we are given the proper resources and funding we need to allow us to keep up with patient demand and the evolving face of modern healthcare.
‘GPs are the cornerstone of the NHS, which is why it’s more important than ever that we redouble our efforts to ensure the profession is not only fit for new recruits, but also for existing GPs and those who might be thinking of returning to general practice.
‘We will continue to work with the Government and others to achieve this within the shortest possible time, notwithstanding the challenges we face.’
Earlier this year, an official report showed fewer trainee doctors in their foundation year were intending to become GPs.
Meanwhile, in January, Mr Hancock told Pulse he had not set a target date for when the Government should meet the target of recruiting 5,000 GPs.
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Readers' comments (19)
AL "4 TRIES IN ONE GAME" BUNDY | Hospital Doctor18 Apr 2019 10:47am
Are they attracted to general practice
(as the perceived lesser of two evils)
or are they repulsed by hospital medicine..
The way Gen prac is going they are looking at being salaried to corporate gen prac
(understaffed overworked to maintain profitability)
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AL "4 TRIES IN ONE GAME" BUNDY | Hospital Doctor18 Apr 2019 10:50am
Does this include european Union candidate uncertainty regarding brexit?
if there is a brexit??
will they be allowed to stay??
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please-delete-this-fucking-profile-i-cant-delete-it-in-my-account-settings | Locum GP18 Apr 2019 11:40am
Yes the U.K. can train Drs including GPs but can we keep them? It's a big world and the U.K. is a shite place to be a GP - this isn't any kind of evidence that it's not.
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policenthieves | GP Partner/Principal18 Apr 2019 3:43pm
Pisspoor statement is a pisspoor statement .
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GoneIfIHaveToDoAnotherAppraisal | Salaried GP18 Apr 2019 10:25pm
GP training is a great way to extend your medical training with excellent support and mentoring. Once you are done after 3 years, you just simply leave the profession. Simps.
Appraisal means you have to endure the hardship of seeing patients occasionally, and no one is going to stand for that.
Extending GP training to 4 years would make no difference to recruitment.
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Just Your Average Joe | GP Partner/Principal19 Apr 2019 11:41am
Record 3500 trained - due to part time work and leakage from profession - you will be lucky to have 1800 Full time equivalents who will not fill the gap of retiring full time male GPs.
2 in needed to replace 1 out - due to social and political factors meaning most now want to take breaks, part time locum/salaried/portfolio jobs, and very few full time partners.
Locally only 1-2 interested in partnership in group of 17!
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Hogwash | Locum GP20 Apr 2019 11:05am
Lots of African registrars appearing in my area recently and all of a sudden. Lovely and competent as they are most will leave very soon after they qualify and then what?
Sticking plasters will not fix an amputation .
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Merlin | GP Partner/Principal21 Apr 2019 9:49pm
I have trained 16 trainees. Overall their calibre has been good to very good. I presumed most would become partners. One has become a Partner. The others have moved abroad, worked as locums or become housewives.
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Unscepted | GP Partner/Principal23 Apr 2019 10:58am
Recruitment is one thing, retention another:)
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