Study highlights struggles of GPs in deprived neighborhoods

English GPs in areas of socioeconomic deprivation endure increased job pressures related to managing complex patients, insufficient resources, and difficulty in finding locum cover, an analysis by University of Manchester researchers has shown.

The researchers suggest that policymakers should increase funding so that deprivation is taken into account as a factor in general practice funding to address income disparities between GPs in more deprived and less deprived areas.

Published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, the researchers analyzed data from over 8,500 GPs between 2015 and 2021 in the GP worklife survey.

They looked at the relationship between deprivation of practice population and job pressures, job satisfaction, reported income, working hours, and intentions to leave direct patient care.

The lead researcher is Dr. Michael Anderson, an NIHR Clinical Lecturer at The University of Manchester and practicing GP.

He said, “This study shows how the socioeconomic deprivation of practice populations in England is adversely linked to the working conditions of the GPs that work there.

“We highlight a clear and persistent challenge in ensuring equitable health care provision.

“Without targeted investment and policy interventions, the difficulties faced by GPs in deprived areas will only continue to worsen, exacerbating health inequalities.”

Key findings also included:

• GPs in the most deprived areas earn less than those in wealthier areas with an average difference of £5,525 less per year.
• Despite higher job pressures, there were no differences in overall job satisfaction, hours worked per week, or intentions to leave patient care between GPs working in more deprived and less deprived areas.

“This study shows how the socioeconomic deprivation of practice populations in England is adversely linked to the working conditions of the GPs that work there. We highlight a clear and persistent challenge in ensuring equitable health care provision,” says Dr. Michael Anderson.