There has been no noticeable rise in the number of GPs seeking retirement since the passing of the Health and Social Care Act.
An investigation by GP Business found the government’s controversial health reforms; public sector pension proposals and revalidation plans have not affected the rate of GP retirement.
A total of 1152 GPs (2.94%) took retirement in 2011-12 out of the working 39,469 GPs.
This number is down on 2011, where 1253 GPs retired out of 39,817 (3.15%).
“These are very interesting findings,” said Dr Peter Swinyard, Chair of the Family Doctor Association.
“I am slightly surprised but not astonished or gobsmacked. I would have to say there is always a lag between these things, between people getting so fed up that they want to go and then actually going.
“We may need to look again in five years time.”
The number of GPs retiring more than doubled in 2007 to 1355 out of 39,344 GPs (3.44%) compared to 537 out of 38,249 GPs (1.4%).
Since 2007, the percentage of GPs retiring has remained fairly level, and the past six years has seen rates ranging between 2.79% and 3.44%.
Dr Richard Vautrey, Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association’s GP Committee predicts revalidation – expected to come into force in December of this year – will be the catalyst for the numbers of GPs retiring going up.
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