‘Strained’ estate threatens national workforce plan, NHSE leak reveals

NHS England has found that one in five GP surgeries – and more than two-fifths in some regions – were built more than 75 years ago, and is concerned a lack of space will stop it meeting targets to train more GPs, HSJ has learned. 

An internal NHSE document seen by HSJ reveals a major audit it commissioned in 2019 – but has not made public – found 20 per cent of 8,900 buildings examined were built before 1948. The figure rises to more than 40 per cent of practices in London, HSJ understands.

These practices are likely to be in converted houses, normally owned by GP partners, with very limited space and little scope for expansion.

The NHSE slides which include the figure warn the “limited [GP] estate” means there is “strain on existing capacity and meeting current training needs is challenging”.

HSJ understands officials are concerned poor estates and lack of space will restrict the big expansion of GP training planned under the NHS long-term workforce plan. Other fears relate to poor tech and the shortage of experienced staff to supervise trainees.

NHSE said in a statement: “NHS England has asked every ICS to review their infrastructure  to assess which buildings they need to expand and reconfigure to manage additional workforce over the next 10 years.”

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Source: HSJ, 9 May 2024