‘Part-time’ GPS

SIR – I work as an appraiser for GPS in the NHS, meaning that I can see what is happening in different practices.

A typical working day in general practice starts before eight in the morning, with the GP physically at work until eight or nine in the evening. They then go home, where they log in remotely for another two to three hours of processing results and writing referrals.

When we talk about “part-time” GPS, we are therefore talking about people who work 40-50 hours a week, as opposed to full-time GPS working 70-80 hours.

Many of my colleagues have now moved to Canada or Australia, where they can earn more for half as much work, and with far less bureaucracy. Dr Jim Finlayson

Beauly, Inverness-shire