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Page last updated: 14-DEC-2010

GP Workforce

Statistical Publication Notice

14 December 2010

General Practice - GP workforce and practice population statistics to 2010

Introduction

The information released in this publication falls into two main parts.  The first part presents data on GPs contracted to work in Scottish practices in the years 2004 to 2010. Information is presented on the age and gender profile of these GPs, also on their designation (e.g. salaried GP or GP registrar) at Scotland, NHS Board and Community Health Partnership (CHP/CHCP) level.

The second part of the release gives information on the practices and the patients registered with them, including

  • The broad age distribution of patients at NHS Board and CHP level
  • The deprivation and urban/rural mix of practice populations.

Key Points

There has been a steady increase in the headcount of GPs contracted to work in Scottish practices since the introduction of the General Medical Services contract in 2004, rising from 4,456 in 2004 to 4,960 in 2010 (an increase of 11.3%).

In the same time period there has been a large rise in the number of salaried GP posts, from 188 in 2004 to 527 in 2010 (an increase of 180%).

Interpretation

At least part of the increase in the headcount of contracted GPs will be due to an increase in the number of GPs working part-time.

The GP figures reported here do not include GPs who work only as locums (also known as sessional GPs) or the majority of GPs who work only in Out of Hours services.  The actual number of GPs working in Scotland is therefore higher than reported here.

Detailed Findings

There has been a steady increase in the headcount of GPs contracted to work in Scottish practices over the last 6 years, rising from 4,456 in 2004 to 4,960 in 2010 (an increase of 11.3%).  At least part of the increase in headcount will be due to an increase in the number of GPs working part-time.  Whether GPs work full-time or part-time is not available from these data.  However an estimation of the whole time equivalent (WTE) number of GPs for 2009 can be found in the 2009 National Primary Care Workforce Survey results at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/6075.html

An increasing proportion of contracted GPs are female and in 2009, for the first time, females outnumbered males.   This trend has continued in 2010 with females now making up 51.3% of contracted GPs and males 48.7%.

There has been a marked increase in the headcount of GP registrars (now referred to as specialist trainees) between 2004 and 2010, from 282 in 2004 to 503 in 2010 (an increase of 78.4%).  This is related to an increase in the number of training places available and changes in the training arrangements from 2008.  From 2008 GP trainees work in practices during two stages of their training whereas historically registrars would work in practice primarily at the end stages of their training.

The average size of a Scottish GP practice in terms of numbers of registered patients was 5,466 at 1st October 2010

Much of the information presented in this publication, such as deprivation status and urban/rural locations of practice populations, is  useful as a resource for the NHS, the Scottish and other governments, general practices, researchers and others.

Longer term trend information on GP workforce (back to the year 2001) is published on ISD's main workforce pages at www.isdscotland.org/workforce.

Main Contacts

Alistair Smith
Senior Information Analyst
0131 275 6784
alistair.smith4@nhs.net

Glossary

GP - General Medical Practitioner.

GP Registrar - A medical practitioner who is being trained in general practice.  Now also known as a GP Specialist Trainee.

GP Retainee - A GP who can be utilised by a practice as they are required. This primarily aims to allow female GPs returning to work after maternity leave to keep in touch with medicine, but it does not exclude men.

Salaried GP - A GP who is employed by the practice or by the NHS Board on a salaried basis

CHP - Community Health Partnership

WTE - Whole Time Equivalent. This is an estimated measurement of the staff resource available, taking into account part time working.

Pre-Release Access

Under terms of the "Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008", ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access ("Pre-Release Access" refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.

Standard Pre-Release Access

Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads

Extended Pre-Release Access

Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access).

History of this Publication

Last Published: 26 January 2010
Next Due: December 2011
Data Available Since: Paper publications since 1970s; Web publications since 1996

 


Main contact: Email Alistair Smith