Bar to be lowered for trainee doctors to become GPS

PLANS to make it easier for failing trainee doctors and overseas medics to become family doctors are being drawn up by health officials, amid desperate shortages of GPS.

The Government has pledged to increase the number of GPS by 5,000 by 2020 to combat rapidly growing waiting lists and record vacancies for doctors. Officials are drawing up plans which could allow trainee medics to become a GP even if they have to take their exams six times, and are considering relaxing checks on doctors who trained abroad.

Figures show that the number of fulltime GPS has fallen by more than 1,250 since rescue plans were launched last year. Last night the Royal College of GPS said doctors were under “intense pressures” but said efforts to expand the workforce must not come “through the back door” or undermine safety.

Under plans from Health Education England, trainee GPS will get an extra six months to pass their exams and possibly a maximum of six attempts, compared with the current four.

Meanwhile, NHS England has announced a review of training and assessment of overseas doctors, to see if it is possible to “streamline” the process for those who trained as GPS abroad by comparing training programmes of countries outside the EEA, beginning with Australia.

The Royal College of GPS, which is conducting the review with the General Medical Council, warned against any changes which jeopardise safety. Chairman Prof Helen Stokes-lampard said: “General practice is under intense resource and workforce pressures, and we desperately need more family doctors practising in the UK, but not through the back door, and not at the expense of the trust and confidence patients have in their GP.”