GP “retirement time bomb” revealed with one in five nearing retirement

EMBARGO: 00:01 Wednesday 28th June

• Almost 8,000 fully qualified GPs are over 55, one in five (22%) of total

• Lib Dems warn of GP “retirement time bomb” facing local communities

• Calls for government to set out clear plan to recruit more GPs in NHS workforce plan this week

The Liberal Democrats have warned of a “GP retirement time bomb,” after new research by the party reveals more than one in five family doctors are nearing retirement age.

The analysis of NHS figures shows that almost 8,000 fully qualified GPs are over 55, making up 22% of the total. Of these, 3,700 (10%) were aged 60 or more while 1,470 (4%) were aged over 65.

Previous polling has found that almost half (47%) of GPs said they intend to retire at or before 60. 

It comes ahead of the government’s NHS workforce plan expected later this week. The Liberal Democrats said the plans must include a clear plan to retain and recruit more GPs so people can get an appointment when they need one.

The Conservatives have failed to recruit the extra GPs that were promised in their 2019 manifesto. Instead, the number of fully qualified and full-time GPs has fallen by 2,165 since September 2015.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a legal right for patients to see a GP within a week, or within 24 hours if in urgent need. This would be achieved through increasing training places for GPs, introducing reforms to retain experienced doctors and staff, and launching a recruitment drive to encourage those who’ve left the NHS to return.

Liberal Democrat Health & Social Care Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP:

“Communities are facing a GP retirement time bomb that would make it even harder to get an appointment when you need one.

“GPs on the frontline do an incredible job looking after their patients, but increasingly many are choosing to leave or retire early because of unmanageable workloads. It is creating a vicious cycle, with patients struggling to get an appointment while GPs are under more pressure than ever.

“This week’s plans from the government need to include a clear plan to finally recruit the extra GPs the country needs, without cutting corners, downgrading care or risking patient safety. That should include listening to Liberal Democrat plans to boost the number of GPs so that everyone can get a GP appointment within a week or within 24 hours if in urgent need.

“People are fed up with this Conservative government failing to deliver on the basics and driving local health services into the ground.” 

ENDS 

Notes to Editor

Analysis on GP numbers available here. Original source: NHS Digital (tab 2).

Previous polling has found that almost half (47%) of GPs said they intend to retire at or before 60 (Pulse Today: 2022).