GP “retirement time bomb” in Berkshire West revealed with 22% nearing retirement

The Liberal Democrats have warned of a “GP retirement time bomb,” after new research by the party reveals more than 2 in 9 family doctors are nearing retirement age.

In Berkshire West, 22% of GPs are nearing retirement age, and 22 are over 60 years old.

Nationally, the analysis of NHS figures shows that almost 8,000 fully qualified GPs are over 55, making up 22% of the total. Of these, 3,700 (10%) were aged 60 or more while 1,470 (4%) were aged over 65. It comes as previous polling has found that almost half (47%) of GPs said they intend to retire at or before 60. 

The Conservatives have failed to recruit the extra GPs that were promised in their 2019 manifesto. Instead, the number of fully qualified and full-time GPs has fallen by 2,165 since September 2015.

Reading’s Liberal Democrats are calling for a legal right for patients to see a GP within a week, or within 24 hours if in urgent need. This would be achieved through increasing training places for GPs, introducing reforms to retain experienced doctors and staff, and launching a recruitment drive to encourage those who’ve left the NHS to return.

Reading Liberal Democrat Councillor Meri O’Connell said:

“Reading is facing a GP retirement time bomb that would make it even harder to get an appointment when you need one.

“The Government has neglected our local health services and broken their promise to recruit more GPs. Their inaction has left far too many people in our community struggling to see their GP and get the care they need.

"The Liberal Democrats have set out a clear plan to ensure everyone can see their doctor within a week, or 24 hours if in urgent need. There is no time to waste in finally recruiting the extra GPs this government promised before this crisis gets even worse."