Thank you for contacting me about the recruitment and retention of GPs.
Unfortunately, due to urgent parliamentary business, I was unable to attend this debate.
However, I know that the Government remains committed to increasing the number of doctors in general practice and is determined to deliver this as soon as possible. The number of GP training places has increased, with 4,000 trainees accepting a place in 2021-22, compared to 2,671 in 2014.
Work is ongoing with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Health Education England and the profession to increase recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encourage them to return to practice. We need to draw on talent around the world to increase the numbers of GPs and improve capacity in primary care. The General Practice Forward View (published in 2016) sought to recruit an additional 500 suitably qualified and trained overseas doctors to the NHS.
There are already a number of requirements in place for GPs from overseas to be able to work in general practice in the UK.
Applicants need to be registered and licensed to practise with the General Medical Council (GMC), demonstrate proficiency in English and obtain a Skilled (Health) Workers Visa or have an “indefinite leave to remain” to be able to work in the UK. Their length of service will partly depend on the applicant’s Visa status and employment status after training.
Through the Covid-19 pandemic, GPs have been able to access additional funding to support expanding capacity through the General Practice Covid Capacity Expansion Fund.
The updated GP Contract Framework announced a number of new retention schemes alongside continued support for existing schemes for the general practice workforce. In areas where there are GP vacancies, the Targeted Enhanced Recruitment Scheme provides a £20,000 salary supplement to attract GP trainees.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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