Bma Warns Of Uk Gp Shortage, Calls For 40,000 More

On February 27, 2026, the British Medical Association (BMA) issued a striking press release comparing General Practitioners (GPs) in the UK to a 'critically endangered species,' highlighting the alarming state of the healthcare system. Recent data from the BMA reveals that England has just 3.2 doctors per 1,000 people, significantly lower than the OECD EU average of 3.9, indicating a dire need for an additional 40,000 doctors to meet demand. Despite an overall increase in NHS staffing, general practice has seen a decline of 550 fully qualified GPs since September 2015, while the number of patients has risen by 14.2%. This has resulted in a single full-time GP now being responsible for an average of 2,214 patients, exacerbating the crisis of overwork and burnout among practitioners.