大象传媒

Have you ever struggled to get a GP appointment?

大象传媒 Inside Out has uncovered a national shortage of GPs, doctors deserting the profession and junior doctors avoiding what they see as an "unglamorous" career.

All these have culminated in the number of unfilled GP posts quadrupling in the past three years, which may help explain why your surgery's phone number is often engaged.

大象传媒 Inside Out discovers why some GPs are leaving the service early and finds out what is troubling them about GP practice.

Some GP surgeries have been struggling to cope with increasing patient numbers, growing workloads and difficulties in recruiting new doctors.

An exclusive 大象传媒 Inside Out ComRes survey of 1,004 GPs across the UK found that 56% of doctors expect to retire or leave general practice before the age of 60.聽

The GP shortage is being exacerbated by the declining number of students going into GP practice as a speciality.

In 2013, only 20% of medical students chose to work in general practice on completion of their foundation training despite a national target of 50% by 2016.聽

大象传媒 Inside Out follows the work of Cumbria Health On Call (CHOC), Cumbria's out-of-hours doctor service.

The CHOC services are increasingly busy because people cannot get regular appointments at their local GP surgeries.

Michelle Ackerley reports on the growing pressure on GP surgeries and out-of-hours health services.