Salaried GP numbers jump 10% in one year

26 Mar 09

Figures from the Information Centre show that the number of salaried GPs increased from 6,022 in 2007 to 6,663 in 2008, confirming the huge surge in GPs working in sessional roles.

The statistics also revealed that 42% of GP practices - and 47% of GPs - now work under PMS contracts.

Elsewhere, the number of practice nurses fell for the second year, from 3.6% to 22,000 between September 2007 and September 2008.

The total number of GPs increased marginally from 27,342 in 2007 to 27,347 in 2008.

However, the overall number of GP practices continues to fall, highlighting the shift away from small and single-handed practices towards larger working models.

There were 9,000 practices in 1998, compared to 8,230 in 2008, with the number of single-handed practices falling by 28% since 2004.

The number of GP practice staff fell by 2.2% to 94,000 during the same period, with the total number of NHS staff rising 2.8%. Practice nurse numbers fell by 3.6%.