GPs accused of going part time to have ‘an easy life’

PATIENT groups have accused GPs of driving up waiting times and going parttime because they want ‘ an easier life’.

With ‘terrifying’ consequences for patients, the average family doctor now works less than 3.5 days a week while only one in 20 trainee doctors plans to do the job full time, research has found.

A survey of more than 2,000 GPs by Manchester University revealed they typically do 6.7 half- day sessions a week, the lowest on record.

Meanwhile, separate polling carried out by the King’s Fund think-tank of over 700 trainee GPs showed that most had no intention of pursuing full-time work as a family doctor.

The think-tank said patients should be treated by administrative staff and case managers instead of routinely expecting to see a GP.

Health campaigners say current trends are leaving patients with everlonger waiting times and making it harder to see the same GP.

They said GPs were fortunate to have the flexibility of part- time hours, with average earnings north of £100,000 for a GP partner. Joyce Robins, of Patient Concern, said: ‘I find it absolutely astonishing that so many GPs now work part-time.

‘It’s not easy work but an awful lot of jobs are in that category and not as well paid as doctors. That’s why they can go part time. People seem very loathe to do hard work now. They want an easier life.

‘But you expect more from doctors. It’s a terrifying situation for patients. It is extremely hard to get an appointment nowadays which is the last thing you want when you’re ill.

‘It costs a lot of money to train to be a GP so we need people who are prepared to do it as a full-time job.’

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: ‘These findings are very worrying for patients. If these trainees translate their current plans into career choices, it will only become harder to get an appointment with a GP in the years ahead.’

Some 42 per cent said they wanted more lucrative locum work, with only 22 per cent planning to work full time as a GP within a year of ending their training, the Telegraph said. It comes after a poll revealed half of GPs plan to retire before the age of 60.

And one in seven GP posts is now empty, with vacancy rates up threefold in six years. Many blame heavy workloads, fuelled by the rising elderly population and paperwork. It is thought others are leaving early to avoid hefty taxes which kick in when their pension pot exceeds £1million.

For the past five years, female GPs have outnumbered men, adding to demand for flexible working hours.

Questioned about long-term career goals by the King’s Fund, just one in 20 trainees intended to work fulltime within ten years of qualifying.

Most want other jobs, either alongside their role as a family doctor or instead of it. More than half said they want to do other NHS clinical work, 27 per cent hope to work privately and 20 per cent want to work abroad.

The top three reasons for avoiding full-time family doctor jobs were the intense working days, long hours and family commitments. Beccy Baird, senior fellow at the King’s Fund, said: ‘Stress is going up. This isn’t about lazy GPs who earn so much that they can afford to work part-time.’

‘Loathe to do hard work’