Over 4,000 trainee GPs accepted on placements

With demand for GP services at an all-time high we’re pleased to report more than 4,000 new trainees have accepted placements to join the profession, figures published by Health Education England (HEE) reveal today.  

As the organisation responsible for providing training places for GP specialty training recruits and managing the specialist training process, it means we have hit the Government’s target for GP specialty trainee recruitment for the fifth year running.

Through the Choose GP campaign Health Education England is recruiting foundation year doctors as well as locally employed/ trust grade doctors and consultants who want to retrain as a GP.

Figures from NHS Digital show there are 9,628 GPs in training grade in GP placements across England as of September 2022.

Professor Simon Gregory, Medical Director, Primary and Integrated Care at HEE, said:

“I am delighted that so many doctors have accepted their offer on GP specialty training programmes across England.

“There is no denying that it is a difficult time for the profession, with GPs under growing pressure as demand increases - but it is heartening that thousands of doctors are continuing to see general practice as a rewarding and valuable career.

“We have consistently met or exceeded annual GP training targets and initiatives like the national Choose GP campaign demonstrate our ongoing commitment to helping to provide a sustainable workforce.”

Professor Wendy Reid, Director of Education and Quality and National Medical Director, HEE, said:

“This is fantastic news. It has never been more important to promote careers in primary care and these figures are a reflection of the hard work of HEE teams to yet again meet this target.

“Trainees have an important role in primary care and we are grateful for their dedication in providing care for patients across England.  

“By meeting this target we are continuing to attract people to the profession to provide much-needed care to local communities.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:

“GPs makes a real difference to communities and I am delighted that once again we have hit our recruitment target and more medical students are choosing a career as a GP.

“This pipeline of talent will strengthen our growing primary care workforce helping patients get appointments and access the right service at the right time.

“I am hugely appreciative to GPs and their teams for all the hard work they do every day in caring for us and our loved ones.”

Previous year recruitment totals:

2014      2,671

2015      2,769

2016      3,019

2017      3,157    3,250 target

2018      3,473    3,250 target

2019      3,540    3,500 target

2020      3,793    3,500 target

2021      4,001    4,000 target

2022      4,032    4,000 target