Job crisis is 'bigger threat' than private firms

Unemployment amongst young GPs is certainly a big challenge for the profession.Many of us chose general practice as a career because of cradle to grave relationship with the patients and career stability, both of which are lacking in locum work.Most of us want to be in stable jobs i.e partnerships which are very hard to come by in the current scenario. The current bosses at the helm clearly lack focus and long term plan.Increased intake (likely to increase even further) has shifted the pendulum to other side along with squeeze on funding for practices.Lack of workforce planning is not unheard of and chaos in NHS is reflected here as well.We only need to go back a year or two to remind us of MMC fiasco and clear failure on part of the authorities that resulted in a lot of overseas doctors coming to UK, many of whom are now stuck in non training positions or had to go back, not to mention difficulties faced by local graduates, Only a year ago, weekly newspapers carried striking headlines about thousands of GPs going to retire in next few years and creating a vacuum.I can not see that coming despite so much negative spin about GPs which will leave anyone fuming and upset, Times are certainly uncertain and so is the future of general practice as well as of future GPs. I will not take the blame by moral police of the profession for caving in to work for Tescos or Boots if it fails me now.Dr Buckman is rightly worried about this cancer but unless we get out act together and look after each other,time will run out for cure and this cancer may only be palliated.