Quitting patient care and career break intentions among general practitioners in South West England: findings of a census survey of GPs.

Conference:

SAPC ASM 2017 - Warwick

Talk Code:

3D.6

Presenter:

John Campbell

Co-authors:

Gary Abel, Rob Anderson, Suzanne H Richards, Chris Salisbury, Sarah Dean, Anna Sansom, Fiona Warren, John L Campbell

Author institutions:

University of Exeter Medical School, University of Bristol

Problem

Given recent concerns regarding general practice (GP) workforce capacity, we aimed to describe GPs’ career intentions, especially those which might impact on GP workforce availability over the next 5 years.

Approach

Census survey, conducted between April and May 2016 using postal and online responses, of all GPs on the NHS Performers list and eligible to practise in primary care. Two reminders were used as necessary.The setting was South West England (population 3.5 million), a region with low overall socio-economic deprivation.2248 out of 3370 eligible GPs (67% response rate).Main outcome measures included: reported likelihood of permanently leaving or reducing hours spent in direct patient care or of taking a career break within the next five years, and present morale weighted for non-response.

Findings

Responders included 2179 GPs engaged in patient care. Of these, 863 (37% weighted, 95%CI 35%, 39%) reported a high likelihood of quitting direct patient care within the next five years. Overall, 1535 (70% weighted, 95%CI 68%, 72%) respondents reported a career intention that would negatively impact GP workforce capacity over the next five years, through permanently leaving or reducing hours spent in direct patient care, or through taking a career break. GP age was an important predictor of career intentions; sharp increases in the proportion of GPs intending to quit patient care were evident from 52 years. Only 305 (14% weighted, 95%CI 13%, 16%) of GPs’ reported high morale, while 54% (weighted, 95%CI 52%, 56%) reported low morale. Low morale was particularly common amongst GP partners. Current morale strongly predicted GPs’ career intentions; those with very low morale were particularly likely to report intentions to quit patient care or to take a career break.

Consequences

A substantial majority of GPs in South West England report low morale. Many are considering career intentions which, if implemented, would adversely impact GP workforce capacity within a short time period.

Submitted by:

Emily Fletcher

Funding acknowledgement:

The project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Health Service and Delivery Research programme (project 14/196/02). The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Health Service and Delivery Research programme, the National Institute for Health Research, the National Health Service, or the Department of Health.