NHS Highland's Locum GP Costs Exceed £620,000 per Year

Strategic Insights -

NHS Highland's medical practice, Three Harbours Medical Group, has been employing locum GPs at a significant cost, exceeding £620,000 per year. The health board acknowledges the challenges of maintaining GP services in remote and rural areas, citing ongoing vacancies and a need for locum cover to ensure continuity of care. Despite targeted improvement work, the locum bill remains substantial, with costs amounting to £644,848 in 2023 and £640,983 in 2024.

Key Takeaways:

  • NHS Highland's locum GP costs for Three Harbours Medical Group exceeded £620,000 per year, with a total of £644,848 in 2023 and £640,983 in 2024.
  • The health board attributes the high costs to ongoing vacancies and a need for locum cover to ensure continuity of care in remote and rural areas.
  • Despite targeted improvement work, including enhanced locum booking processes and reduced locum costs, the locum bill remains significant.
  • NHS Highland has maintained its nursing and advanced nurse practitioner team throughout the period, with ongoing recruitment campaigns to secure permanent GP appointments.
  • The current GPs' contract is seen by some as not working for rural areas, and should be revisited to address the challenges in recruiting and retaining GPs.
  • The national shortage of GPs is predicted to reach nearly 700 by 2027, despite government targets to increase the workforce.
  • A significant percentage of GPs, 40%, indicate they will likely leave general practice within five years, citing stress and workload.

Statistics:

  • The total cost of employing locum GPs at Three Harbours Medical Group in 2023 was £644,848.
  • The total cost of employing locum GPs at Three Harbours Medical Group in 2024 was £640,983.
  • The average monthly cost of employing locum GPs at Three Harbours Medical Group from April to July 2023 was £197,691.
  • If the current rate of expenditure were to continue, the total cost of employing locum GPs at Three Harbours Medical Group over the next three years would exceed £1.8 million.
  • The national shortage of GPs is predicted to reach nearly 700 by 2027, despite government targets to increase the workforce.
  • A significant percentage of GPs, 40%, indicate they will likely leave general practice within five years, citing stress and workload.

Sources:

  • NHS Highland
  • Freedom of Information (FOI) request
  • "Reassurance given on merging of two GP practices in Caithness" (John o' Groat Journal)
  • "Wick's Riverview joins forces with Thurso and Lybster medical practice" (John o' Groat Journal)
  • "We are such a good team: Kirsty's videos show range of pro" (John o' Groat Journal)
  • "CHAT chairman claims NHS Highland 'determined to cut costs'" (John o' Groat Journal)
  • "Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT)"
  • "Scottish Government"