The college said it was the first time it had taken such a step in a bid to address the chronic shortage of GPs.
The move came as Health Education England earlier warned that slow trainee recruitment was the primary risk for the GP workforce and set out plans to drive up the number of GPs by 15% between 2013 and 2020.
In her letter Dr Baker said: ‘There is now a real push to put more resources into general practice and build up the GP workforce. As a result, the future of general practice is looking bright.’
New deal for primary care
She said the ‘new deal for primary care’ promised in the Five Year Forward View and the announcement of new funds by the government meant GP skills had never been more in demand.
‘As care is shifted out of hospitals, GPs will increasingly lead the development of new integrated services for patients in their communities.
'GP practices are part of the fabric of their local communities, and the relationship that family doctors build up with their patients remains a key reason why it is one of the most satisfying jobs in the world,' she said.
‘I hope that the prospect of working in general practice sounds exciting. Please do consider joining me in this fantastic profession.’
The college is calling for 10,000 more GPs in England by 2020 to cope with growing patient demand.
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