Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Clinical Commissioning Group (BLMK CCG) have said that GP recruitment is a “priority” after it was found that there is just one GP for every 2,500apx people in the Bedford area.
The figures, published by the Liberal Democrats, and based on House of Commons Library data, were revealed by the Bedford Independent last week.
Read: “Alarming” figures reveal Bedford area has just one GP for every 2,500 people
Bedford Independent readers have also previously written to us about the increased anxiety they have faced when trying to get a GP appointment.
Letters: Booking a doctor’s appointment has added to my anxiety
The Liberal Democrats say the data shows that the number of people per GP in England has risen by five per cent to an average of 2,038 since 2015.
70 of the 113 Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) areas in England have seen an increase in the number of people per GP since 2015.
16th worst in England
Locally, BLMK CCG is ranked as the 16th worst in England, with 2,462 people for every one GP. This is an increase of 18% from one GP for every 2,092 people in BLMK five years ago.
The number of GPs employed in the area has also fallen by 12% to just 390 in the same period. BLMK CCG admitted in 2019 that 25% of their GPs would be eligible for retirement over the next five years.
Now BLMK CCG says GP recruitment is a priority for them as part of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System (BLMK ICS).
“The CCG is monitoring the data and understands there is room for improvement.,” said a BLMK CCG spokesperson.
“It is a priority for BLMK CCG to continue with our recruitment initiatives to improve this position for both our patients and our member practices.”
They, however, questioned the Liberal Democrat’s data on their position in relation to the rest of England.
“BLMK is in the 3rd percentile across the country”, they said, based on the data it monitors (national digital workforce platform), but that “improving this position is a BLMK ICS and NHSE priority”.
The CCG also said that it has put a number of initiatives in place to increase the number of GPs:
- International GP Recruitment (eight GPs recruited during 2019-20)
- Since 2016 Local GP Fellowships have recruited GPs from outside of the area and retained local GPs with the offer of a portfolio opportunity
- New to Practice Programme launched provided targeted supported learning & development to newly qualified GPs to induct & retain them in GP with the support of experienced mentors and key business, management & leadership skills
- Mentorship & Coaching support to newly qualified GPs and Locums to see the benefits of salaried/partnership positions
- Promotion of the GP Retention and Partnership payment scheme
- Increasing the number of GP training placements within BLMK
- Retention of experienced GPs through opportunities to become mentors/coaches, return to practice
- The CCG said that GP headcount numbers reduced by 2.4% between 2015 – 2021
- During the same time period, direct patient care roles (including pharmacists, physiotherapists and physician associates) increased by 30 per cent (headcount) 44 per cent (Full Time Equivalent).
April 2022 target
“Between 2019 – 2020, we saw an increase in GP headcount despite the challenging backdrop of the pandemic,” the spokesperson added.
“Practices (and since 2019 Primary Care Networks) are now made up of multi-professional teams, focussed on ensuring they maximise skill mix enabling patients to access the most appropriate staff member depending on their needs.”
“Practitioners are encouraged to work to the top of their licence – freeing up GPs to make best use of their expertise. With the significant increase in the number of different practitioners working in general practice, we would expect to see GP numbers stabilise.”
When asked what it predicts the prediction for patients per GP for 2022 will be, the spokesperson said: “We have informed NHSE that we aim to reach 406 FTE GPs by April 22 which equates to roughly 41 per 100,000.”
That’s still only one GP for every 2,439 people. But they say that this brings them closer in line to the England average of “45 per 100,000 patients.”
“We are currently at 37FTE per 100,000 patients,” they said.
Additional reporting by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
