Where have all the GPs gone?

We have just had the latest GP Workforce Report for Q3, October to December 2017/18 from Health Education England. The report is compiled from data that practices submit to the GP Workforce tool. In this quarter we had submissions from 37 practices. 

 Below is tabled the headline data:

Role
Q2 2013/14
Q4 2016/17 (%>55)
Q2 2017/18 (%>55)
Q3 2017/18
GP
223.8 (14%)
232.49 (16%)
212.33 (15%)
205.95 (16%)
Practice Nurse
126.52 (23.5%)
151.95 (28%)
137.48 (28%)
140.77 (27%)
Direct Patient Care
59.79 (18.2%)
80.88 (20%)
78.81 (27%)
84.07 (20%)
Practice Management
448.57 (25%)
478.69 (26%)
435.93 (26%)
455.62  (29%)
Apprentices
11.02 (0)
29.1 (0)
26 (0)
25.37 (0)


Below is a graph staff number trends over the last four years since we have been collecting data:

As you can see from the data the dip in GP numbers that we reported after the last quarter data has persisted and there are less GPs in Wakefield than there were four years ago. There has been a small increase in the number of practice nurses and healthcare staff involved in direct patient care. Since 2014 the numbers that should worry us are:
  • Twenty less GPs
  • More GP nurses but the age of GP nurses has increase and now 27% are over 55 years of age compared to 23.5% in 2013/14
  • About the same numbers of practice management staff but again the number over 55 years of age has increased, from 25% in 2013/14 to 29th now.

Overall there are 25 less GPs in Wakefield than there were at the end of March, 2017 - where have they gone!


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