New GPs face 'desperate' times as jobs dry up

GPs who are due to qualify this summer face the worst recorded jobs crisis, senior doctors warned today.

Thousands will be looking for work in community surgeries when they pass their training in 10 days' time.

But Dr Alex Smallwood, the British Medical Association's trainee committee chairman, was expected to tell a conference in London that employment prospects are "desperate" because of cost cuts which will lead to at least 100 new GPs applying for each job advertised.

He said that talent which is desperately needed by the NHS will be lost in a "brain drain" to countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Dr Smallwood, who has already seen two friends move abroad to work, said: "The biggest issue is the lack of full-time employment - many surgeries are just taking on locums. Young doctors are being forced out of work which is disastrous."

The Department of Health estimates that 3,000 new doctors are needed every year and current estimates show that around 2,300 are qualifying - well below demand.

But many new doctors are not finding jobs because practices are no longer offered money to employ them so they take on part-time staff instead.

The BMA will today urge general practices to take on at least one new partner and will also propose a reward scheme for surgeries which recruit new staff.