Pharmacists could be next after success of GP recruitment scheme in Durham

NHS bosses for the county set up the initiative in 2015, offering salaried posts in practices for aspiring GPs who did not want to take on the full responsibility of a partnership.

Since then, more than 90 per cent have remained in the region, along with a similar number of nurses hired through a similar programme.

“Our attempts to increase the GP workforce has borne fruit,” said Dr Joseph Chandy, director of commissioning strategy and delivery for primary care at County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

“We developed a career start scheme, where we attracted newly qualified GPs to stay in Durham, as that used to be a significant problem.

“Over 40 GPs in the last few years have accessed that scheme, we’ve also been doing that very successfully with practice nurses and we hope to do that with clinical pharmacists as well.”

Dr Chandy was speaking at a meeting of Durham County Council’s Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.

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