The Independent
New research predicts ‘disastrous’ shortfall of GPs in less than 10 years
The NHS faces a shortfall of tens of thousands of GPs in the next decade which will have “disastrous” impacts on patient care, new research warns.
The NHS currently has a shortage of 4,200 GPs, according to a new analysis from think tank the Health Foundation.
However, its report, published on Thursday, warns the situation could worsen, with a shortage of more than 10,000 GPs by 2030 – or in a worst case scenario a shortfall of more than 20,000.
The analysis also suggests a future shortage of nurses working in general practice, with the NHS down 17,000 nurses on what is needed to meet demand within surgeries.
In 2019, the Conservative party committed to recruiting 6,000 more full time GPs in England by 2023-24. But researchers said it was “unlikely” the government would reach this target.
