£10 million fund to help retain GPs

£7 million will be made available through regional-based schemes to help GPs to stay in the workforce, as NHS England announces a new £10 million fund to support and retain GPs.

The regional-based schemes will promote new ways of working and offer additional support through a new Local GP Retention Fund. A further £3 million will also be made available to establish seven intensive support sites across the country in areas that have struggled most to retain GPs.

The funding follows the launch of the GP Retention Scheme last year to support GPs who cannot work more than four sessions per week for personal reasons, as well as when a regular part-time role does not meet the doctor’s need for flexibility. Additionally, the GP Health Service, also launched in 2017, is a free and confidential mental health service for General Practitioners and Trainee GPs, who may be experiencing mental health and addiction issues.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “General practice is in a tough place right now, and it’s essential we look after the hard working GPs in our profession, including those just starting out in their careers. Today’s measures are really welcome, and we appreciate the focus on supporting local initiatives and areas that are finding it particularly difficult to retain GPs in the profession.

“We hope these plans are just the start of more initiatives that tackle escalating GP workload, and that they are implemented with as little red tape as possible. We also want to see more options and greater flexibility for experienced GPs, particularly those who might be considering leaving the profession, so that our patients can continue to benefit from their expert skills – and newer GPs can continue to learn from them.”