EXCLUSIVE Half of practice managers report that GP staff have quit their job or indicated they may need to leave their job as a result of the cost of living crisis, a Management in Practice survey has revealed.
The survey of 540 respondents has highlighted the toll of financial pressures on practice staff and working life due to the soaring cost of living – as well as the support surgeries are offering employees.
Findings showed that three quarters (75%) of practice managers had become aware of staff members being negatively affected by the crisis in the past 12 months.
Nearly a third (30%) said staff members’ mental health was being affected, as they had admitted to feeling overwhelmed and stressed because of money worries.
In addition, just over a quarter (27%) reported that staff had admitted they were struggling to cope financially and couldn’t afford some basics.
And almost a fifth (18%) said team members were feeling both stressed about money and having to cut spending on basics.
Financial problems experienced by individuals are having a knock on effect staff resourcing, according to the survey results.
Factors related to increased living expenses have been causing staff to leave their job or consider leaving, according to 49% of practice managers. The top reason cited by staff moving jobs or considering moving jobs was securing a better paid job elsewhere, although not at another practice (35%).
And the roles most affected by the cost of living crisis according to practice managers are reception staff closely followed by admin staff.
But GPs and practice managers haven’t escaped feeling the financial pinch. A third (35%) of respondents said practice managers were affected by the cost of living crisis and a fifth said GPs were.
Meanwhile, practices have responded to the problem by offering both financial and mental health support.
While the majority (70%) said they had implemented pay increases, 62% provided access to wellbeing and mental health resources (such as an app) and more than half (56%) provided fruit, snacks and drinks for staff at work.
A quarter (24%) offered access to financial advice and guidance and just under a fifth (19%) gave staff the option to work flexibly to save on travel costs. Six per cent provided subsidised or free meals for staff at work.
The support put in place helped improve staff retention, 31% of respondents said. Although 23% acknowledged it had made no difference.
One respondent from a practice in Somerset said it has ‘a staff larder, with bread, porridge, and noodle meals.’ While another said free meals and period products were provided for staff out of the directors and practice managers’ own pocket , rather than out of practice funds.
And another practice manager, who said the cost of living has affected staff retention said they introduced uniforms for reception and admin staff to help keep expenses down.
Some surgeries also offered one off ‘winter payments’ for staff when fuel bills are higher and others mentioned giving individuals personal 0% loans to staff if needed.
However, a handful of respondents noted that squeezed practice finances was severely limiting their capacity to do more for staff.
One practice manager said: ‘Falling practice income and increased patient demand means options [are] limited.’
Another commented: ‘We are open to conversations to support individuals. [It’s] difficult when the cost of living has impacted practice finances. It is more the kindness of individuals that provides additional support as practices try to put more into pay rises.’
Meanwhile another respondent highlighted that: ‘In 2023, we gave reception staff a significant increase (nearly 14%) to take them well above the new minimum wage. We can’t afford to do that again this year.’
Kay Keane, practice manager at Urban Village Medical Practice, Manchester told Management in Practice she is aware of surgeries that direct their teams to food banks or have emergency cupboards with enough food in for a hot meal.
‘Here at my practice, we always have free sanitary products and a bowl of fresh fruit. These things might seem like essentials for many but to some who are working in general practice these really are luxuries.’
She added: ‘It’s heartbreaking to know the economic situation many people find themselves in, hardworking staff members who give everything to the NHS (including coming to work during the pandemic when most people were afraid to leave their houses) only to be left with nothing at the end of the month.
‘We have to do something different to support our teams and encourage people to come into the workplace. It’s not just clinical staff we are struggling to recruit but support staff too.’
This survey was open between 19 September and 18 October 2024, collating responses using the SurveyMonkey tool. A total of 540 practice managers responded from across the UK. Between 309 and 387 answered questions posed about the cost of living crisis. The survey was advertised to our readers via our website and email newsletter, with a prize draw for a £200 John Lewis voucher as an incentive to complete the survey. The survey was unweighted, and we do not claim this to be scientific – only a snapshot of the practice manager population.
