The problem with defining GP work in terms of sessions – a study of trends in GP working hours and intensity

In this episode, we talk to Dr Joe Hutchinson, who is a salaried GP and an academic GP working within the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research at the University of Manchester. 

Title of paper: Trends in full-time working in general practice: repeated cross-sectional study

Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2023.0432

General practice is under increasing pressure, in part due to a lack of GPs. There is contention as to the proportion of GPs working full-time. We find that average hours and sessions worked per week by GPs in England have declined, whilst average hours per session has increased. Over half (55%) of GPs work at least the NHS Digital standard full-time definition of 37.5 hours per week. Average hours worked per session in 2021 was 51% greater than the BMA standard definition of a session’s duration. We recommend removing sessions as a definition of full-time working. However, if full-time work commitment continues to be defined in terms of the number of sessions worked, alignment with the NHS definition of 37.5 hours per week could be achieved by recognising that 6.0 sessions per week of 6.2 hours constitutes full-time work.