GP trainee recruitment up five per cent on last year

According to Health Education England (HEE), the number of trainees opting to enter general practice has increased by almost five per cent on last year’s figures.

Speaking at the Commons Public Accounts Committee meeting, Professor Ian Cumming, HEE chief executive said there had been a 4.7 per cent increase in the number of GP trainees recruited on the same stage last year.

The news comes after the profession has shown declining numbers of trainees entering general practice, until an upturn last year, following a series of measures put in place by HEE and NHS England.

HEE recruited 3,019 GP trainees last year, missing its target of training 3,250 new GPs a year by 2016.

However Cumming maintained he was confident they will meet the target in 2017.

Cumming said: “We have been successful in increasing the number of people entering general practice. In 2016, we had 3,019 , which is the highest ever number and is about 10% up. Our target is 3,250, which we’re aiming to hit this year.

“Round 1 applications have just closed, and that is 4.7 per cent up on the same time last year. So we’re seeing continued progression in terms of the number of people wanting to train as GPs. Which I think is in part in recognition of some of the work going on elsewhere in terms of seeing additional funding coming through.”