GPs working singlehandedly earn an average of £132 010 (€168 240; $265 100)—about £26 000 more than doctors who work with six or more partners, official data show.
Overall GPs’ average pay has doubled in real terms in the past 20 years, according to newly published figures from the NHS Information Centre.
The figures also show that doctors’ earnings rise as GPs get older until the age of 60, with an average earning of £117 820 for GPs in the 50-59 age group.
The statistics, from the NHS Information Centre, look at the changes in family doctors’ pay as well as how pay varies with factors such as age and number of partners.
The GP Earnings and Expenses Enquiry 2005/06 Final Report presents an analysis of tax returns for a sampled 17 581 GPs on contracts and 2743 salaried GPs, who earned an average of £46 905 in 2005-6.
An interim report published last October showed that GPs with contracts in the UK earned on average £110 004 in 2005-6. Doctors working on a general medical services contract (most GPs) earned on average £106 312.
Expanded detail in the final report shows that this compares with average earnings of £25 254 (£51 512 in today’s terms, taking inflation into account) in 1985-6, although contractual arrangements and work done have changed.
Doctors who work on a personal medical services contract earned an average £120 272 in 2005-6, an increase of 9% since 2004-5.
Findings from the final report show that GPs on contracts in rural practices earned on average £116 967. Their equivalents in urban practices had average earnings of £108 455.
A spokesperson for the NHS Information Centre, said, “Our figures for 2005-6 show that GPs’ earnings vary widely depending on a range of factors, including the size of their practice. At £132 000 the average earnings of GPs working in singlehanded practices continues to be substantially more than GPs working in larger practices.”
Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA General Practitioners Committee, said that earnings for 2005-6 had been superseded by events, and two years of zero pay awards had left most GPs worse off than they were in 2005-6.
“These are now historical figures relating to the planned increase in pay for GPs under the new contract,” said Dr Buckman.
“In recognition of the way family doctors’ pay had fallen behind in the years leading up to the new contract, the government negotiated a system in which pay would rise significantly in the contract’s second year. This is shown in the 2005-6 figures.
“Since then GPs have been singled out and their pay has been frozen with not even a cost of living increase in resources for their practices.”
The health minister Ben Bradshaw said, “It is right that GPs should be rewarded for the care they provide to patients. Introduction of the new contract three years ago has stemmed the haemorrhaging of GPs from the NHS and improved quality of care.”
GP Earnings and Expenses Enquiry 2005/06 Final Report is at www.ic.nhs.uk.