DOCTORS warned yesterday that government efforts to recruit 5,000 extra GPs in England by 2020 are failing, with numbers actually having fallen since September last year.

A new report from the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) raises concerns that many doctors have yet to see the Forward View initiative have any significant effect and needs to be overhauled.

A survey of GPs for the report found that 39 per cent think they are unlikely to be working in the profession in England in five years’ time.

The RCGP fears the profession “could reach breaking point” unless existing working conditions are also looked at.

RCGP chairwoman Helen Stokes-Lampard said: “It takes at least three years in speciality training for new doctors to enter the workforce as independent consultant GPs, so while it’s fantastic that more foundation doctors are choosing general practice this year, if more people are leaving the profession than entering it, we’re fighting a losing battle.

“Above all else we need to see efforts stepped up to keep hard-working, experienced GPs in the profession, and the best way to do this is to tackle workload pressures and improve the conditions under which all GPs and our teams are working.”

The British Medical Association’s GP committee chairman Dr Richard Vautrey said: “Despite the GP workforce shrinking again last year, the government has continued to promise 5,000 extra GPs to patients. It is time to admit that this pledge is now unachievable.”

A Department of Health spokesman said it has increased funding by £2.4 billion to support improvements in patient care.