Senior GPs including former RCGP chair Dr Clare Gerada warned that forcing doctors to work in the NHS was likely to backfire. Read GPonline coverage of Mr Hunt's Conservative party conference speech here.
So doctors are going to have to do 4 yrs National Service. In return for massive debt, poor T&C, over work! Not a good idea for recruitment.
— Clare Gerada (@clarercgp) October 4, 2016
There is a good way to keep medics here. Treat them well & create an environment where they can do the job they love successfully.
— Stephanie deGiorgio (@DrSdeG) October 4, 2016
But the health secretary's plans to cut back NHS reliance on doctors trained outside the UK and make the NHS 'self-sufficient' in workforce terms drew the strongest criticism, with some Twitter users suggesting the government was failing to acknowledge the vital service many overseas doctors have given the NHS.
@Liz_ORiordan @dermotor @guardian Underlying assumption that IMG's are inferior. So insulting. @medicalwomenuk @rcgp
— Dr Catherine Harkin (@buletproofcardi) October 4, 2016
Feeling rather sick at this "British doctors" are somehow better rhetoric this morning on @BBCBreakfast by Theresa May.
— Stephanie deGiorgio (@DrSdeG) October 4, 2016
The NHS is facing an unprecedented medical staffing crisis and our SoS resorts to bullying, xenophobia and conscription.. #juniordoctors https://t.co/EQTR28rRe4
— Dr Richard Griffiths (@Oncology_Doctor) October 3, 2016
My dad's worked for the NHS for almost two decades and nearing retirement. But, hey, whatever, back to Iraq it is https://t.co/WqopqSz8ij
— kadhim (^?^)? (@kadhimshubber) October 4, 2016
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon hit out at 'arrogance' from the UK government over comments that doctors trained outside the UK would be 'allowed' to remain until the UK could produce enough doctors itself to run the NHS.
The arrogance of this from UKG is breathtaking...like they're somehow doing these doctors a favour by 'allowing' them to save lives here. https://t.co/oUnOiEkRfG
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 4, 2016
GPonline coverage of workforce data from NHS Digital revealed the extent to which the NHS relies on GPs trained outside the UK.
Two thirds of GPs qualified outside UK in some CCG areashttps://t.co/wKr8GALkrf@nickbostock #NHS utterly reliant on overseas doctors pic.twitter.com/la7HuusVkZ
— Neil Bhatia (@docneilb) October 4, 2016
@nickbostock @GPonlinenews poorly thoughts out with no evidence base dreamed up purely as a sound bite......sounds familiar
— Ben (@bendav1es) October 4, 2016
Meanwhile, GPC policy lead for education, workforce and training Dr Krishna Kasaraneni said: 'GP recruitment has not hit the target consistently for nearly a decade. There are currently hundreds of vacancies making a mockery of government’s aim to recruit an additional 5,000 GPs by 2020.
'GP workload is increasing at dramatic rates and funding has dropped disproportionately over the last few years. Yet, rather than addressing the root causes of this recruitment crisis, the government wants to force medical graduates to stay working in the NHS, a proposal which can only have a negative impact on morale.
'The government needs to invest in general practice, decrease the bureaucratic workload and make general practice an attractive career for the next generation of doctors. Forcing doctors to stay in the health service when they want to gain experience elsewhere, for example, will not address this recruitment and retention crisis, nor is it be in the best interests of patient care.'
