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There are approximately 36,000 GPs in the UK |
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It takes 6 years to train as a doctor and then a further
3 years to train to become a GP. |
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Each patient on average sees their GP 4 times per year –
this means, there are over 250million GP/patient consultations per year;
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15% of the entire population sees a GP in a two week
period. |
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The average practice in the UK has about 6,000 registered
patients and 3 - 4 GPs. The average full time GP looks after 1,700 –
1,800 patients. |
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The average face to face contact with a GP costs £20,
compared to £24 in a Walk in Centre, £27 for a telephone contact with
NHS Direct, £75 for an attendance at A&E and between £100 – 300 for each
attendance at a hospital Out Patient Department. |
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GPs are paid LESS than 20 pence per patient per day to
provide all the day to day care that is required. This is less than the
cost of a daily newspaper. |
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GPs are responsible for their patients care
from 8 am to 6.30 pm Monday to
Friday. |
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Some GPs additionally provide care outside these times,
via locally based out of hours services. |
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GPs refer about 10% of patients seen to hospital
specialities, which means that nearly 90% of all health needs of the
British population are managed entirely in general practice. |
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In a recent Government survey it was found that patients
were more satisfied with their GPs than they were with the hospital
service. General Practice in the NHS was the most popular of all public
services. |
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In a recent Government White Paper, they stated that “by
international standards general practice in England is efficient and of
high quality. Indeed many countries view with envy our system of list
based general practice”. |
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GPs are now paid differently in that nearly 50% of their
income is via quality performance-related pay. |
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The performance-related pay is based on achievements made
in the Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF). This consists of over 100
targets of which 76 cover 10 important disease areas, measuring
performance against proven standards. This has contributed to the
largest and most admired clinical database in the world. |
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The Government has transferred all its responsibility for
funding part of GPs’ pensions to the GPs and then claimed this was a
part of a pay rise. |
