The policy of equality, whereby females now outnumber males by 3:1 at all universities, means we do not have enough doctors committed to full-time medical practice upon completion of training (‘GP vacancy rate doubles in a year', pulsetoday.co.uk/news).
If we wish to train this many females then the number of places for male doctors should be increased. Incentives should be given to employ partners coupled with the removal of the prohibition on the sale of goodwill.
This would increase turnover of burnt-out, middle-aged doctors like me, and incentivise profit-sharing again. We should reinvent the medical practices committee to ensure that appointments reflect need, not convenience, which will also reduce exploitation of salaried doctors.
From Dr John Orchard in Alfreton, Derbyshire
