An analysis by the Nuffield Trust think tank has found that patients in some parts of England are struggling to see a GP due to significant regional variation in doctor numbers. Kent and Medway have the fewest GPs per person, followed by Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes. The study has come at a time when the UK government is struggling to meet its promise of boosting the GP workforce by 6,000 during the current parliament.
Last year, the government published its 15-year workforce plan, the first time such a strategy had been developed. However, the uneven distribution of key staffing groups has yet to be tackled, leading Dr. Billy Palmer of Nuffield Trust to suggest that local areas should set minimum staff numbers and incentivize GPs to move to under-doctored regions to reduce unfairness in patient access.
Although the UK government has met its target to increase the number of nurses by 50,000 this parliament, the increased numbers have not been felt evenly. Some specialist nurse posts, such as health visitors and learning-disability nurses, have seen a decline in numbers. Gloucester has an overall ratio of 45% more GPs per person than the most under-doctored regions.
Prof Kamila Hawthorne, who chairs the Royal College of General Practitioners, has warned that without immediate action, the future of the GP profession and the care delivered to patients is uncertain. While the recruitment and retention of GPs has proved difficult, the government has seen an increase of 2,800 GPs since the start of the parliament and hopes to build on that through the rapid expansion of training places detailed in its workforce plan. The Department of Health and Social Care has said it is “working hard” to increase the NHS workforce
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