Increasing workload pushing one third of GPs to quit within five years
Only half said they were satisfied with their jobs last year
Over a third of GPs are planning to quit their jobs in the next five years, according to the annual GP Worklife survey's newly released figures.
Three in five (60%) of GPs over the age of 50 are also planning on leaving the job by 2026.
Researchers are also concerned about the 'worrying' statistic that 16% of GPs under the age of 50 are making plans to leave the profession.
On why researchers think this is happening, the survey, which is the eleventh conducted by academics at the University of Manchester, found a dip in job satisfaction between 2019 and 2021.
They revealed that just over half (51%) said they were satisfied with their jobs last year.
Elaborating on why this was, GPs surveyed highlighted problems with increasing workloads, increased demands from patients and having "insufficient time to do the job justice".
A poll of almost 2,300 family doctors working in England found that paperwork was causing stress as were long working hours and dealing with "problem patients".
More than eight out of 10 GPs reported experiencing considerable or high pressure from increasing workloads and increased demands from patients.
Professor Kath Checkland from the University of Manchester, who led the study, said: "It is not really surprising that job satisfaction has dropped amongst GPs during the pandemic, but the survey provides some evidence about the areas of work they are finding more stressful, which may help in designing ways to support them.
"The fact that 16% of GPs under the age of 50 are thinking about leaving their jobs is worrying, and suggests that work is still needed to ensure that general practice is sustainable for the long term."
On these survey results, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: "We are working to support and grow the general practice workforce, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession, and encourage them to return to practice.
"In December 2021 there were over 1,600 more doctors working in general practice compared to 2019 and a record-breaking number started training as GPs last year.
"We have invested £520 million to expand GP capacity during the pandemic, on top of £1.5 billion until 2024, and we are making 4,000 GP training places available each year, to help create an extra 50 million appointments annually."