College data estimates 47% more GPs will qualify in 2025 than 2019

Approximately 47% more GPs have qualified in 2025 than in 2019, according to new data from the RCGP. The College estimates that around 4,200 GPs will receive their CCTs and qualify in 2025. This is around 1,339 more doctors than 6 years ago (2,861).

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said:
“It’s great to see more registrars achieve their ambitions of qualifying to be General Practitioners, at a time where we so urgently need them to meet the increasingly complex health needs of our patients. These figures show that we are getting excellent new GPs into the workforce - our top priorities must now be ensuring they can find appropriate work, and keeping them in the profession, delivering patient care, for years to come.

“We continue to hear reports from GP registrars that they are facing struggles finding appropriate roles – which is paradoxical at a time when patients crying out for more appointments, and general practice is under intense workload and workforce pressures. According to members, many practices are struggling to take on new roles due to lack of funding, resources and infrastructure.

“While we support the ambitions of the 10-Year Health Plan and the shift of more healthcare from hospitals into the community, it just won’t be possible without the numbers of GPs needed to deliver this extra work. We look to the revised Long-Term Workforce Plan, due soon, for greater commitments and a more detailed way forward as to how the Government will to recruit and retain the workforce we need.”

Dr Deepthi Lavu, newly qualified GP and Co-Chair of the RCGP Registrar Committee, said:
“Qualifying after years of training to become a specialist doctor should be a happy time to celebrate a momentous life achievement. But unfortunately, we know many registrars have very real concerns about finding a role.

“Even though we have more patients in need of care, and more complex health challenges than ever, we are being told that there aren’t enough job opportunities available for those entering the workforce as qualified GPs.

“We have some incredible young doctors ready to work, and we need to be doing everything we can to keep them in the NHS providing the safe and timely care patients need.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.