Small increase in GP trainee numbers is “vote of confidence,” says RCGP
BMJ 2016; 353 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i1888 (Published 01 April 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;353:i1888
Figures released by Health Education England showing that GP trainee numbers have increased by 1 percentage point are a “vote of confidence” in the profession, the chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners has said.
Figures released on Thursday 31 March detailing the acceptance and fill rates into specialty training programmes showed that 70% (2296) of GP training posts had been filled after the first round of recruitment in 2016.1 This was up from 2015, when 69% (2144) of posts were filled after the first round.
Compared with all other specialties, the second lowest fill rate in 2016 was in general practice training, and the lowest was in core psychiatry training: 67% (280) of these posts were filled in 2016, compared with 65% (256) in 2015.
Maureen Baker, chair of the royal college, said that the increased fill rate in general practice was “a vote of confidence in GPs and the future of general practice—and excellent news for our patients who will ultimately benefit.”
She said that it was a testament to the work of faculties, practising GPs, and university GP societies in promoting the careers. She added, “Today’s announcement also shows that the 10 point plan launched last year by the college, NHS England, Health Education England, and the BMA is having a positive and very tangible impact.”
Baker said that she had written to all foundation doctors encouraging them to consider a career in general practice. “We now need to ensure that general practice is fully supported,” she said.
The acceptance and fill rate figures were published on Oriel—the UK-wide system for managing recruitment into postgraduate specialty training—to help trainees decide which speciality to apply to.
Of the 16 specialty training programmes, the figures showed that seven, including core surgical training and clinical radiology, had filled 100% of their posts. The fill rate in acute care common stem emergency medicine training was 96% (298), a slight drop from 99% (325) in 2015. Obstetrics and gynaecology had a fill rate of 100% (205) in 2015, which dropped to 91% (209) in 2016.