GP Crisis: Practices Face Closure in 5 Years

Leading medical accountant Vijay Acharya has issued a stark warning: UK GP practices could face widespread closures within five years if their business models are not fundamentally reformed. Acharya highlights a critical disconnect where surgeries are desperately seeking permanent doctors, while newly qualified GPs claim a shortage of jobs, leading many to pursue higher-paying locum positions with fewer responsibilities.

This situation is unsustainable, as relying on expensive locum staff drains budgets needed for practice operations. Acharya emphasizes that the current funding model, where NHS reimbursement per patient is insufficient to cover high locum hourly rates, is unworkable. He calls for urgent government intervention, including business training for GPs and incentives for newly qualified doctors to commit to permanent practice roles.

The Royal College of GPs reported a decrease of 1,000 practices between 2017 and 2025, alongside a significant rise in patient numbers. This points to a system under immense strain, with patient care and community support at risk. Experts suggest a potential mismatch between the desire for locum work and the actual needs of general practice, necessitating a change in funding or expectations to avert a crisis.