Practice Team

Training Practice

Priory Medical Centre is a training practice, and we are proud to support the development of future healthcare professionals. This may include medical students, Foundation Year (F2) doctors, GP Registrars (GPST1, GPST2, and GPST3), as well as student nurses who are gaining valuable experience within general practice.

At times, a trainee may be present during your consultation. You will always be informed beforehand and asked for your consent. If you would prefer to be seen alone, please let us know—your care will not be affected in any way.

We believe it is important to be a training practice to help develop the next generation of clinicians, support high standards of care, and contribute to the future of general practice. Training also helps us maintain a culture of learning, reflection, and continuous improvement within the practice.

Our GPs and nurses are actively involved in teaching and supervising trainees to ensure they are well-supported and able to provide safe, high-quality care under appropriate supervision.

GP Earnings and the Reality of General Practice

All GP practices in England are contractually required by NHS England to publish the average (mean) earnings of GPs working at the practice. This requirement applies specifically to GP practices, despite GPs being independent contractors rather than salaried NHS employees.

While presented as a transparency measure, this figure alone provides very limited insight into the realities of modern general practice, including workload, responsibility, and funding pressures.

It is important to highlight that this requirement to publish average earnings applies specifically to GP practices.

Other professionals working within the NHS—including hospital consultants, clinical directors, senior managers, and other healthcare staff—are not required to publish their average earnings in this way at practice or department level, despite working within the same publicly funded system.

GPs are also distinct in that they are independent contractors, responsible not only for delivering clinical care but also for running small businesses, employing staff, and managing premises and operational costs.

We feel it is important for patients to understand this context. Publishing a single headline figure without explanation risks creating misunderstanding about how general practice is funded and how GPs are remunerated. It can also inadvertently contribute to negative perceptions of primary care, which does not reflect the reality of the work undertaken or the pressures faced.

Our aim in providing this information is to ensure transparency while also offering a clear and balanced explanation of what these figures mean in practice.

The Funding Reality of General Practice

General practice delivers approximately 90% of all NHS patient contacts, yet receives only around 8–9% of the total NHS budget.

Practices receive on average £100–£120 per patient per year to provide unlimited, comprehensive care, including:

• GP and nurse consultations
• Long-term condition management
• Prescribing and medication reviews
• Investigations and results handling
• Referrals to hospital services
• Safeguarding work
• Administrative and regulatory workload
• Staffing, premises, and operational costs

This equates to roughly £2–£3 per patient per week.

In real terms, funding has declined over the past decade when adjusted for inflation, while demand has risen sharply.

The Growing Demand on General Practice

General practice is managing a population that is:

• Larger – over 63 million patients registered with GP practices
• Older – with more long-term conditions
• More complex – requiring longer, more frequent consultations

Workload has increased significantly, with research showing GP workload rising by around 16% over recent years

GPs now deliver hundreds of millions of appointments annually, while also absorbing work shifted from hospitals into the community.

The GP Workforce Crisis

There is clear and growing evidence that GP numbers are not keeping pace with demand:

• The number of fully qualified full-time equivalent GPs has fallen since 2015
• The number of GP partners has declined significantly, reducing experienced leadership within practices
• The number of patients per GP continues to rise, now often exceeding 2,300 patients per GP

Further evidence shows:

• Around 1 in 3 qualified GPs are no longer working in NHS general practice
• GP job availability has fallen by around 45% in recent years, limiting opportunities for newly qualified doctors

Data and commentary widely shared by organisations such as NHS workforce analysts and professional bodies (often reflected in NHS-focused public information pages) consistently highlight:

• Declining GP numbers relative to population need
• Increasing workload per clinician
• Reduced interest in partnership roles
• Growing concerns about long-term sustainability

At the same time:

• Many GPs are reducing their hours due to workload intensity and burnout
• Fewer doctors are choosing to work full-time in general practice

Training and Responsibility

Becoming a GP requires a minimum of 10–15 years of training, including:

• High academic achievement at A-level
• A 5–6 year medical degree
• 2 years of Foundation training in hospitals
• 3 years of GP specialty training

During this time, doctors must pass rigorous postgraduate exams and continuous assessments.

Once qualified, GPs must:

• Complete annual appraisal
• Undergo revalidation every 5 years
• Maintain ongoing continuing professional development (CPD)

GPs are responsible for managing uncertainty and risk across a wide range of conditions, often making complex decisions with significant consequences for patient safety.

Professional Costs and Accountability

GPs must personally fund and maintain:

• GMC registration (annual licence to practise)
• Medical indemnity insurance, often costing thousands per year
• Royal College membership fees
• Ongoing training, courses, and compliance requirements

These ensure safe, regulated, and accountable practice.

Putting GP Earnings into Context

GPs are highly trained professionals working within a constrained public system.

For comparison:

• UK MP salary is approximately £86,000+, with access to additional expenses and allowances
• Senior solicitors, partners, and company directors frequently earn well into six figures
• Many professions with comparable responsibility and risk are significantly higher paid

GPs, however, deliver care within a fixed and limited NHS funding envelope.

International Comparison of GP Earnings

When considering GP earnings, it is also helpful to view them in an international context.

Across many comparable healthcare systems, GPs (or family doctors) are paid significantly more than in the UK:

• Australia: typically £120,000 – £180,000+, with higher earnings in rural areas
• Canada: often £180,000 – £280,000+ (before overheads)
• United States: approximately £160,000 – £260,000+
• Switzerland: frequently £250,000 – £300,000+
• New Zealand: around £70,000 – £100,000+

By comparison, average GP earnings in the UK are typically in the region of £70,000 – £90,000 before deductions, depending on role and working pattern.

Why This Matters

These differences are significant. In many countries, GPs earn two to three times more than their UK counterparts, despite undertaking similar levels of training, responsibility, and clinical risk.

This disparity has real-world consequences:

• Increasing numbers of UK-trained GPs are choosing to work abroad
• Recruitment and retention within the NHS are becoming more challenging
• Workload is being spread across a shrinking workforce

At the same time, UK general practice continues to operate under comparatively lower funding while managing rising demand and increasing complexity.

Context, Not Comparison Alone

While healthcare systems differ and direct comparisons are not always exact, the overall picture is clear:
UK GPs are relatively less well remunerated than many of their international peers, despite delivering a high volume of care within a publicly funded system.

This context is important when interpreting published GP earnings figures and understanding the broader challenges currently facing general practice.

Published GP Earnings (Required Disclosure)

The mean earnings for GPs working at Priory Medical Centre for the year ended 31st March 2024 were £82,650.

This figure:

• Represents an average across 4 full-time and 7 part-time GPs
• Is calculated before tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions
• May include additional income from leadership and extended roles

It does not represent individual GP take-home pay.

What This Means for Patients

Despite:

• Rising demand
• Fewer GPs relative to population
• Increasing complexity
• Real-term funding pressures

General practice continues to deliver the vast majority of NHS care.

However, the current model is under significant strain. Workforce shortages, increasing demand, and limited funding are creating a widening gap between what is needed and what can be delivered.

Our Commitment

At Priory Medical Centre, we remain committed to:

• Delivering safe, effective, patient-centred care
• Supporting and training the future workforce
• Continuously improving our services
• Advocating for sustainable general practice

We strongly believe in the founding principle of the NHS—equitable care for all, free at the point of need—and in the vital role of general practice at its heart.