Analysis

Streeting claims he has hired 1,500 ‘new’ GPs. Nope. Here’s what’s really happened

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47 Comments on Streeting claims he has hired 1,500 ‘new’ GPs. Nope. Here’s what’s really happened

Reduction in ‘locum’ doctors means real number of GPs has flatlined under Labour – at best

Right-wing Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has, like his boss, accepted large donations from private health interests and is pushing the use of non-doctor ‘associates’ in place of trained doctors in the NHS as part of his slash-and-burn NHS plan, has today boasted that he has “recruited over 1,500 extra GPs” to, in Labour’s appalling, Tory-mimicking language “fix the front door of the NHS”.

All too predictably, it’s not really true – the number of GPs has flatlined under Starmer and Streeting at best and, as ever, the devil is in the detail.

In fact, in ‘full-time equivalent’ (FTE) terms to correct for those working part-time, the number of ‘extra’ GPs hired is somewhere between 820 and 900, as the British Medical Association has confirmed – already considerably fewer than the headline claim.

Meanwhile, the number of ‘locum’ GPs – doctors who work temporarily at a practice then move on to another one – like a supply teacher in schools – has fallen dramatically under Labour, by at best 895 and by just under 1,200 overall, almost half of the total that Labour inherited.

As the NHS figures below show, the number of locums doing no other kind of general practice role has fallen by almost half, from 1,819 to 924. But the number in total, which includes doctors doing locum work as well as working as a salaried GP somewhere else, has collapsed from 2,393 to 1,212:

Streeting’s ‘extra’ GPs are at best covering the loss of other peripatetic GPs and may well even be largely the same doctors moving onto different contracts.

The old saying ‘Never trust a Tory with the NHS’ applies as much to the red type as the blue.

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47 comments

  1. Reduction in ‘locum’ doctors means real number of GPs has flatlined under Labour – at best

    Even if this achieves nothing else it will improve patient care and free up quite a considerable sum which can be spent more effectively elsewhere.

    Reply

    1. Reduction in ‘locum’ doctors means real number of GPs has flatlined under Labour – at best

      Even if this achieves nothing else it will improve patient care

      Care to explain how having less doctors, locum or not, improves patient care?

      Reply

      1. PW – Surely it is logical that if the doctor that you see at your local GPs surgery is on their payroll rather than a temp locum then the likelihood of patients being able to see the same GP will be much improved thus improving patient care.

      2. Lying tory fucks, wouldn’t you agree, wee noncecase?

        If not, why not? What’s NOT tory about smarmerite labour?

      4. SteveH08/04/2025 at 7:03 pm
        PW – Surely it is logical that if the doctor that you see at your local GPs surgery is on their payroll rather than a temp locum then the likelihood of patients being able to see the same GP will be much improved thus improving patient care.

        For absolute fucks sake…WHAT IS your major malfunction?

        You might as well have asked

        “Surely, eating shite when you are starving fills your belly and alleviates the hunger?”

        You really are beyond redemption, cretin.

      5. Toffee – I can’t think of a reason why I should care one way or t’other what you happen to be ranting about today.

        I have better things to do, don’t you?🌞

      6. Just fucking croak, and give the rest of us something to be grateful for.

      8. Oh yeah, you’ve got better thongs to do.

        But you’re on here spouting your usual vacuous drivel.

        And the wingdings…an overt admission that just like the rest of us, you also haven’t got a fucking clue about any difference between smarmerism and toryism.

        Hit being the friendless, contrarianist can’t fhat you are, you’ll continue to post your drivel.

        The only thing you defend with any vigour is the westminster/parliamentary/smarmerite nonsenseism.

        Anything else, you either pretend not to understand what you’re being told/asked, or that fucking infantile w9ngding makes its ubiquitous appearance.

        Well, it might impress the youngsters and the feeble minded, nonce.

        But you’re in the entirely wrong spot for trying to impress anyone with your shite, here.

        Is there a reason you haven’t returned to the uk? 😙🎶

      10. “Surely it is logical that if the doctor that you see at your local GPs surgery is on their payroll rather than a temp locum then the likelihood of patients being able to see the same GP will be much improved thus improving patient care.”

        It is more reasonable to conclude from the above statement that the criteria being argued is that of [checks notes] “improved patient care.” (unquote)

        However, the fundamental flaw in the argument presented by Billy no mates here is clear to anyone who actually read the article above and who adheres to standard basic mathematical and logical principles rather than the mathematical realm of 360 degree Annalena Baerbock (the alleged German Foreign Minister).

        To quote from the article and the statistics supplied:

        “In fact, in ‘full-time equivalent’ (FTE) terms to correct for those working part-time, the number of ‘extra’ GPs hired is somewhere between 820 and 900, as the British Medical Association has confirmed – already considerably fewer than the headline claim.”

        Let’s go with the higher figure of 900 actual FTE doctor posts rather than the low figure of 820 for a best case scenario.

        Looking at the other side of the ledger, the actual reduction of posts “which includes doctors doing locum work as well as working as a salaried GP somewhere else, has collapsed from 2,393 to 1,212:”

        A reduction of 1,181 doctors

        Subtracting the higher figure of 900 FTE posts created from this 1,181 overall reduction in actual physical doctors leaves us with a reduction of 281 doctors. in the GP practice sector.

        Not, admittedly, a huge percentage of the total across the country.

        However, given that Billy no mate’s criteria is “improved patient care” the question Billy needs to provide a coherent grown up answer to (assuming he is capable of achieving something he has never ever delivered in all his time here) is how a reduction in the number of GP’s – which reduces the number of physically possible available appointments and increases waiting times for patients – meets Billy’s own criteria of “improved patient care”?

        In your own Billy.

      11. Dave – I wonder who was responsible for the cut in waiting lists by 193,000 since July, and delivered over two million extra NHS appointments in England in its first year. 🤔

      12. Surely it is logical that if the doctor that you see at your local GPs surgery is on their payroll rather than a temp locum then the likelihood of patients being able to see the same GP will be much improved thus improving patient care.

        Not if there aren’t enough GPs in the first place — which there aren’t. So, no, it’s not logical at all.

        My surgery had up to 8 doctors when I joined it 12 years ago, with at least 4 or 5 available daily — you could even choose the one you wanted to see, within a day or so if not available then.

        Since then the surgery took on a horde of new patients after another local surgery closed. Yet, now there are only 4 doctors at most, with only 2 available on the day. Most appointments are 4 weeks hence, unless deemed urgent on the day. There is a PA — who prescribed a medication I shouldn’t have had and which thankfully I spotted beforehand — which pretty much serves the same purpose as a locum but without the knowledge and experience.

        If you think that’s improving patient care, then it just shows how clueless you are about the state of affairs here in the UK.

      13. And you believe these figures from proven liars, Billy.

        Seriously?

        That’s not what we are actually experiencing.

        What you are demanding we do is believe you rather than our everyday experiences.

        Ain’t going to happen.

        Just like your plastic heroes, you are a liar and a fraud.

      1. from BMA article linked above:“Whilst the GP workforce has been declining, the number of patients continues to increase, demonstrating the ever-mounting workload in general practice. In February 2025 another record-high of 63.76 million patients were registered with GP practices in England, an increase of 6.85 million since 2015. As a result, the average number of patients each full-time equivalent GP is responsible for now stands at 2,257. This is an increase of 319 patients per GP (17%) since 2015.”

        Improved patient care/safety is not the result.

      2. qwertboi – ……..and thankfully Labour are doing what they can to fix this as illustrated by the shortening waiting list times, the decreasing number of patients per doctor, the increasing number of appointments and the decreasing numbers who are left languishing on waiting lists.

        It will take a while to fix what the Tories spent 14yrs systematically dismantling.

      3. PROVE IT, wee gobshite.

        Oh of course, examples like PW’s qwerty and a plethora of similar examples I could provide are all just anecdotal, and don’t count, do they?

        You want an example off me?

        OK. I only get to see a ‘health coach’ regarding my weight issue, but NOT, it seems, A doctor – ANY doctor (GP).

        This is despite my having heart/cardiovascular problems.

        Yet my appointment with the health coach no doubt counts as a GP appointment, for the figures.

        But the moron who lives halfway around the planet tells the rest of us things are getting better.

        Now answer this – if you have any scruples (you don’t, so you won’t, but I’m gonna ask anywy)

        Why won’t you return to the uk wee noncecase? Is it for the same reason loads of jews won’t return from israel 😙🎶

      4. Toffee – The BMA figures that qwertboi linked to above clearly show that there has been a drop in the number of patients per GP have dropped in the first 8mths of Labour being in power, Is that proof enough for you?

      5. “Labour are doing what they can to fix this as illustrated by the shortening waiting list times, the decreasing number of patients per doctor, the increasing number of appointments and the decreasing numbers who are left languishing on waiting lists. ”
        Knock! Knock!

        Nerve to brain Cell.

        Which bit of the maths are you having problems with, Billy:

        “Whilst the GP workforce has been declining, the number of patients continues to increase, demonstrating the ever-mounting workload in general practice. In February 2025 another record-high of 63.76 million patients were registered with GP practices in England, an increase of 6.85 million since 2015. As a result, the average number of patients each full-time equivalent GP is responsible for now stands at 2,257. This is an increase of 319 patients per GP (17%) since 2015.”

        How, pray, do you derive the fantastical mathematical result that there is a decreasing number of patients per doctor from an average increase of 319 patients per GP?

        How do you arrive at the impossible conclusion of an increasing number of appointments when the number of GP’s has decreased, whilst the number of patients across the country has increased by nearly seven million in ten years?

        The only way to achieve such conclusions is by the dishonest sleight of hand of counting hospital doctors in the GP figures.

        You’ll be telling us 2+2=5 next.

      6. Dave – When you’ve finished trying to impress everyone with how clever you think you are I suggest you take a look at the figures that qwertboi was kind enough to link to, they clearly show that since Labour was elected there has been a drop in the number of patients per GP.
        All the info is there for you in a form that even you should be able to work out

      7. That would be these figures from qwerty’s (not qwertboi’s) post of 09:04 pm 8/4/25:

        “In February 2025 another record-high of 63.76 million patients were registered with GP practices in England, an increase of 6.85 million since 2015. As a result, the average number of patients each full-time equivalent GP is responsible for now stands at 2,257. This is an increase of 319 patients per GP (17%) since 2015.””

        Which shows and argues the exact opposite of your claim.

        You cannot even lie through your teeth with any credibility, Billy.

        Come on, little Squealer, tell us all how an average increase in 319 patients per GP is really the opposite?

        We could do with some more entertainment from the site’s court jester. Or are you too busy running around trying to find a fire extinguisher to put out that fire you lit in your Y-fronts?

  2. But being the friendless, contrarianist cunt that you are, you’ll continue to post your drivel…

    …And call the rest of us ‘tory enablers’ without any sense of irony OR embarrassment”

    Fixed.

    Reply

    1. Toffee – I really can’t think of a reason why I should care one way or t’other whether or not you are having yet another rant.

      I have better things to do, don’t you?🌞

      Reply

      1. That’s twice you’ve said that….yet here you are, like a stray dog.

        A better thong for you to do, nonce case, would be to explain to everyone how we’re all supposedly tory enablers when it’s your smarmerist party continuing with tory measures – and even bragging they’re more tory than the tories.

        Impoverishing the pensioners, the disabled and carers like me.

        But I’m the tory enabler because I refused to vote for a hunch of rodents whom I knew would do exactly what they’ve done so far (and aren’t anywheres near finished yet).

        Go on, nonce – explain just HOW that works?

      2. Toffee – …..and here we are for the third time:🤔

        I really can’t think of a reason why I should care one way or t’other whether or not you are having yet another rant.

        ………..are you a bit slow?😟

  3. The weird world of the nonce excuser and smarmer/screeching sycophant, wee steven gobshite summed up, thus:

    SteveH08/04/2025 at 7:26 pm
    Toffee – I have better things to do, don’t you?🌞

    followed by

    SteveH08/04/2025 at 8:12 pm
    Toffee – This fun 🥱😪😴💤

    Before reverting back to

    SteveH08/04/2025 at 8:17 pm

    I have better things to do, don’t you?🌞

    Obviously. But missus h is home, and besides, the goats aren’t playing today – hence your unwelcome presence here, you total wrong un.

    Reply

    1. And even after that he follows up with this better…

      SteveH08/04/2025 at 9:51 pm
      Toffee – …..and here we are for the third time:🤔

      I really can’t think of a reason why I should care one way or t’other whether or not you are having yet another rant.

      ………..are you a bit slow?😟

      And asks if I’M ‘slow’. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

      *pauses for breath*

      🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

      God love ya. Well – someone’s got to, I s’pose 😕

      Reply

  4. If you think that’s improving patient care, then it just shows how clueless you are about the state of affairs here in the UK.

    Oh, but you’re VERY much mistaken, PW.

    If course wee gobshite knows more than we who live in blighty do. He tells us every day that we’d be best voting smarmerist labour, and castigates those who tell him what he can do.

    Even directed his own offspring to vote by proxy for smarmerism because like the wizened citrus, nobody – but NOBODY – knows more about what’s best for the UK than the wee gobshite.

    It’s the better future he’s giving us.

    Hope your daughter remains healthy, wee gobshite. Hope those class sizes she (NOT you) teaches don’t get much bigger to increase her workload and adversely affect her health.

    Oh, let me guess….Are her class sizes are smaller now, due to the VAT?

    I suppose we must be grateful to keef for that one, at least?

    Reply

    1. What we can derive from the imbecilic ravings is that any teachers involved do not cover maths or logic.

      Reply

  5. UK data (use and access) bill has gone straight to the HoL.

    It is the template for digital ID and the loss of privacy. It is the end of of your “freedom”.

    Yet crickets everywhere…

    Reply

  6. From Richard J Murphy:

    Labour claimed yesterday that recruiting around 1,500 new part-time GPs, most of whom had previously been made redundant by the Tories, had solved the problem of getting a GP appointment in England.

    This is utter nonsense.

    According to Statista, there were 6,277 GP surgeries in England in December 2024. So, in less than one in four of them, there might be a new part-time GP. Some, of course, might have more than one.

    That means three in four of them have no new personnel.

    That means it will, inevitably, be no easier to get appointments in these surgeries wth no new doctors.

    Of course, what Streeiting had to say was nonsense. Statistically, it had to be.

    Why do Labour keep on lying?

    https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/04/09/why-do-labour-keep-on-lying/

    Reply

    2. Why does some nonentity (allegedly) in the Caribbean, keep repeating these lies?

      Is he getting paid to carry out this Squealer (from Animal Farm) tribute act?

      Does Billy no mates really believe the bullshit he is peddling?

      Reply

      1. Because he’s an obsessive compulsive bullshitter, with a penchant for seeing kids harmed in one form or another.

        Which, incidentally, is one of the very few things he never contests.

        Indeed, he has previously had to have been coerced – no, practically shamed** – into condemning such acts from the mainly
        (smarmerite) political ethe.

        **WOULD be ‘shamed’ if the wrongun had any concept of the term. 😕

      2. Toffee – Why would I or anybody else care 2 hoots whether you are impressed or not?

      3. Toffee – ………….and I’m supposed to care what you think, because.? 🤔

      4. Dave – On the contrary, I’ve just presented the facts. I’m quite content to leave the imbecilic ravings to you and Toffee.

      5. Dave – What lies would they be?
        Nobody is forcing you to go into silly hysterics every time I post anything

  7. Dave – Oh dear. 🥱

    It is clearly shown by one of the 4 charts contained within the section headed “Change in average number of patients per practice and GP to patient ratio September 2015 to February 2025” that qwerty linked to that the ratio of patients to GP has gone down since Labour came into power.

    Chart – Patients per FTE GP
    Jul2024 – 2.293
    Feb2025 – 2,257
    Difference – 36 (a reduction of c1.57% over the 8 month period from the beginning of Jul24 to the end of Feb24)

    Reply

    1. tut tut SteveH. Read it again: “ As a result, the average number of patients each full-time equivalent GP is responsible for now stands at 2,257. This is an increase of 319 patients per GP (17%) since 2015.”

      Reply

  8. qwerty – Don’t be silly.>/b>

    The figures that I have quoted above are there for all to see within the charts that you linked to

    Reply

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