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GP income continues to fall

25 September 2013

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The gradual fall in contractor GP income has continued this year, figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show. 

A report released today shows that the average income before tax was £103,000 in 2011/12 for GPs in England, a 1.1% drop on 2010/11. 

And GP contractor incomes have fallen steadily since their peak of £110,000 in 2005/05. 

However, income tends to be higher for single-hander general practitioners – before taxes, their average income was £116,000. 

For GPs in practices with two to three doctors the average income was £103,8000, in practices with four to five doctors it was £33,500 and in practices with six or more doctors the average wage was £103,500. 

HSCIC chair Kingsley Manning said: “This report provides a detailed insight into the income of GPs and their practice expenses, showing that the average income before tax of a contractor GP is £103,000.

The data confirm a continued gradual decline in average GP incomes and will provide a useful contribution to discussions over the remuneration of the family doctors.”

Contractor GPs form about 80% of the workforce. The average gross earnings for contractor GPs were £267,900, a 0.5 per cent increase on 2010/11. 

Contractor GPs pay for expenses such as premises and practice staff wages out of their gross earnings – and these costs showed a greater percentage increase than earnings, rising by 1.6% to £164,900. The proportion of their gross earnings taken up by expenses rose to 61.6%.

The full report is available to view on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website