This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
GPs increasingly reliant on doctors aged over 55
New analysis of workforce data suggests that general practice is becoming increasingly reliant on doctors aged over 55 at a time when early retirements in the profession have surged.
According to GP Online, the proportion of fully-qualified full-time equivalent (FTE) GPs aged over 55 rose to 23.3 per cent in June this year - representing a sharp rise when compared with the 20 per cent figure for September 2015, when former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt made his ill-fated pledge to add 5,000 GPs to the workforce by 2020.
The findings highlight the impact of a steady reduction in overall GP numbers over recent years, whilst at the same time underlining the fragility of the profession at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has left the NHS facing unprecedented challenges.
The analysis also shows that the proportion of the FTE workforce aged over 55 among GP partners has now risen beyond 30 per cent for the first time, reaching 30.1 per cent in June this year. Among fully-qualified GPs in permanent roles - a figure that excludes locums and registrars - 23.6 per cent are now over 55, compared with 20.3 per cent in September 2015.
Further analysis by GP Online has shown that some parts of England with the highest numbers of patients per GP also have high proportions of doctors aged over 55 and from BAME groups - suggesting many may be ruled out of delivering face-to-face care after coronavirus risk assessments.
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