Proposals to cut trainee GP pay subsidies could put patients at risk

Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt has been told by family doctors that plans to cut salary supplements to trainee GPs could have a ‘catastrophic’ impact on the workforce and compromise patient safety.

The government is considering proposals to stop pay subsidies worth between £14,300 and £16,200 to trainee GPs, which had originally been brought in to respond to pay discrepancies between GPs and hospital doctors.

According to the Department of Health, the proposals, which have been recommended by the independent Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB), would provide trainee doctors with a higher basic salary and provide an award schedule depending on hours worked.

Trainee GPs work less hours than hospital doctors and scrapping of the subsidy could mean trainee GPs’ pay falling to 31 per cent less than their hospital counterparts. The fear amongst GPs is that medical students will be dissuaded from choosing general practice, at a time when the profession is already struggling to attract new recruits and is in the midst of a crisis amongst its workforce.

Royal College of General Practitioners chair Dr Maureen Baker, has written to the Secretary of State for Health, and in her letter writes “I am extremely concerned that this proposal, if implemented, would have a catastrophic impact on GP recruitment, leading to a worsening of the current workforce pressures that general practice is under and compromising the ability of GPs to continue to provide safe patient care.

I therefore strongly urge you to reject the DDRB’s proposal to remove the GP-trainee supplement, and to enter into discussions with the British Medical Association (BMA) with a view to agreeing a way forward that recognises the need to ensure that disproportionate pay does not discourage junior doctors from joining the profession.”

Increasing the numbers of trainee GPs has recently become a priority for the government, as an ageing and growing population has meant a rise in demand, which has driven an increase in waiting times.

In response to Dr Baker’s letter, a spokesperson from the Department of Health said “These proposals, endorsed by the independent pay review body, set out a fairer deal for all medical and dental trainees so that their pay relates to actual hours worked. We want to encourage trainees to take up specialities like general practice and these plans provide incentives to do so.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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