Study finds one in three GPs not working in NHS general practice in England

An analysis published in the British Medical Journal shows that about one in three licensed general practitioners in England were not working in NHS general practice as of 2024. The BMJ study tracked doctors licensed by the General Medical Council from 2015 to 2024 and found that, on average, for every five GPs licensed, NHS general practice lost one full-time equivalent GP each year during the period. By headcount, the share of licensed GPs not working in NHS general practice rose from 27 percent in 2015 (13,492) to 34 percent in 2024 (19,922); by full-time equivalent terms, the share rose from 41 percent (20,210) to 52 percent (30,351).

Taking population growth into account, the number of patients per full-time equivalent GP in NHS general practice increased by 15 percent over the period, while the number of patients per full-time equivalent NHS consultant fell by 18 percent. By the end of 2024 there were 2,260 patients per FTE GP and 1,092 per FTE NHS consultant.

Experts say that many newly qualified or younger doctors leave the profession due to burnout or stress, and funding constraints can prevent some from securing placements after qualifying, according to an accompanying BMJ editorial. Prof Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, warned that the health system needs thousands more GPs and noted the increased patient load on GPs as well as funding pressures that can hamper recruitment. She called for action in the upcoming NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to address these shortages.

Katie Bramall, chair of the British Medical Association's GP Committee, said the loss of a third of licensed GPs from NHS general practice represents a significant talent drain at a time when each GP serves more than 2,000 patients. She urged government funding to create more GP posts to deliver more appointments and to stop the brain drain.

Earlier this month, the Royal College of GPs wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to discuss barriers to GPs securing visas to work in the UK. The letter noted that while the government plans to expand medical school places and reduce reliance on immigration, the NHS would struggle without GPs trained outside the UK in the near term.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government is working to reverse more than a decade of neglect in primary care, pointing to the recruitment of more than 2,000 extra GPs in the past year, a record £1 billion funding boost, upgrades to surgeries, and deregulation to allow doctors more time with patients. The department also cited July 2025 as recording the highest headcount of fully qualified GPs to date, at 38,960, with improving patient satisfaction.