The number of doctors and practitioner nurses in Waltham Forest could fall over the next five years, a GP group has claimed.

Across Britain there has been concern about the number of trained doctors per person.

New research by NHS Waltham Forest Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)  shows 15 per cent of all GPs in the borough are planning to leave their job in the next five years.

The nation average fall is expected to be 34 per cent by 2020.

Dr Anwar Khan, a local GP and Chair of Waltham Forest CCG said: “It’s a big challenge, but a lot of work is underway to tackle it.”

“We estimate that 30 per cent of a GP’s workload could be carried out by other health and social care professionals.

“In the future it is envisaged that GPs will work alongside physician associates, nurse practitioners, practice nurses, health care assistants, pharmacists and a greater variety of support staff within practices.

“Administrative work also takes up about 11 per cent of a GP’s time, and we think that could be reduced to about 4 per cent by recruiting medical assistant administrators.”

Around thirteen per cent of nurses are also looking to leave their job.

A new programme has been launched to give free training to local nurses who want to retrain as practice nurses in 2016.

But Dr Khan's claims have been criticised.

Dr Bob Gill, GP and member of the National Health Action Party executive committee he said: "What concerns me most about Dr Khan's statement is his lack of explanation about terms like 'physician assistant' and the use of pharmacists in GP practices.

"These roles are currently being advertised on a test basis around the country. In this new system you will find access to qualified GPs restricted and be seeing people who are not doctors in their place.

"This is part of the deskilling and money saving going on in the NHS, as it is driven towards a US medicare style service, it is not about patient care."

To hear about opportunities to work in local health services visit www.walthamforestccg.nhs.uk and sign up to the CCG’s mailing list.

 

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