One in three GPs in England do not work for NHS - BMJ

One in three GPs in England do not work in the NHS, with rising numbers going abroad or becoming private contractors, deepening patients’ difficulties in getting appointments.

- Denis Campbell Health policy editor

The proportion of family doctors who, although qualified, do not provide care through the NHS has increased from 27% in 2015 to 34% last year, according to a study published in the BMJ journal.

That means almost 20,000 GPs who could be working in the health service are “lost” to it, despite unprecedented demand for care and many government initiatives to increase GP numbers.

While a total of 58,548 GPs in England were on the General Medical Council (GMC) register at the end of 2024, only 38,626 were in NHS general practice - a difference of 19,922.

The Patients Association said the findings were “deeply distressing” for patients who are often left frustrated by the time it takes to get a consultation with a GP.

Heavy workloads, increasing demands from patients and widespread frustration that they have too little time to care for patients properly are behind burnout among GPs that is fuelling their increasing dropout from the NHS, the researchers say.