The UK Government has unveiled plans to recruit more than 1,000 newly qualified general practitioners (GPs) this year to improve access to healthcare. 

The move aims to change the rules that currently restrict surgeries from hiring doctors.  

It is part of a broader effort to restore the concept of family doctors and strengthen the health service, ensuring that communities across England have timely access to GP care. 

The government highlighted that, under the 'Additional Roles Reimbursement Schem', primary care networks (PCNs) are currently being reimbursed for the salaries of 17 different roles within the multidisciplinary team, enhancing the availability of specialists to patients.  

Despite this, the scheme has so far excluded the recruitment of additional GPs.  

The latest changes will now allow newly qualified GPs to be swiftly recruited into the NHS as part of the scheme during the 2024-2025 period. 

Concerns have been raised that hundreds of newly qualified GPs could face unemployment this summer in England, the UK Government noted. 

With the government's intervention, these GPs are expected to secure employment by the end of the year.  

In addition, the government’s new plans build on the Pay Review Bodies’ recommendations to implement a 6% pay increase for GPs, marking their first substantial pay rise in several years.  

The government has accepted the recommendations in full. 

The funding required to support this recruitment drive will be sourced from the existing department budget, with an allocation of £82m ($104.2m).  

UK Department of Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “This is a first step, as we begin the long-term work of shifting the focus of healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to fix the front door to the NHS.” 

The expansion of general practice capacity through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme is set to not only improve patient access but also support the delivery of new services and broaden the range of primary care options available. 

UK Primary Care and Community Services national director Dr Amanda Doyle said: “Adding general practitioners to the scheme is something that profession has been calling for in recent months to make it easier for practices to hire more staff, so I welcome this measure, which is an important first step to increasing GP employment in long-term.”