UK GPs 'curbed by cash concerns'

UK GPs are least likely to want to move, the survey found

Most UK GPs feel financial pressures affect their ability to do a good job - but the picture is worse elsewhere in Europe, a survey has shown.

In fact, 36% of doctors working on the continent want to relocate to the UK.

The survey of 1,000 doctors in the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy was carried out by medical magazines in each country.

It found only a third of UK doctors believed Health Secretary John Reid is doing a good or very good job.

Mr Reid fared better than his counterparts in Italy and Germany. Only 5% of Italian doctors, and 8% of Germans felt their health ministers were doing a good or very good job.

However, 42% of French doctors and 52% of Spaniards praised their ministers.

'Constrained'

The UK's GP magazine, France's Le Generaliste, Spain's Diario Medico, Germany's Der Hausarzt and Italy's Tempo Medico carried out the European Barometer survey.

The model of British general practice has for years been seen as one which other countries wish to emulate British Medical Association spokeswoman

In the UK, 70% of those questioned felt economic and budgetary considerations adversely affected their ability to practise medicine in comparison to 73% of Spanish doctors, 83% in Germany and 88% in Italy.

French doctors appeared to feel they had the most freedom, with just 49% saying they felt constrained.

But UK doctors proved the least likely to want to work elsewhere. And 84% said they wanted to continue working in their own country, compared to 62% in Spain, 63% in France, 50% in Germany and 26% in Italy

Colin Cooper, editor-in-chief of GP magazine, said: "This survey paints a worrying picture of the way that economic considerations and bureaucracy are adversely affecting the relationship between doctors and their patients right across Europe.

"But at the same time it shows that GPs in some of the other countries are having a much worse time than those in the UK, to the extent that they are considering working here.

"Our shortage of GPs means that there are now numerous opportunities for European doctors to fill the gaps - with some flying in for weekends to work shifts. How this will affect patient care remains to be seen."

'Satisfaction'

A spokeswoman for the British Medical Association told BBC News Online: "The model of British general practice has for years been seen as one which other countries wish to emulate."

She said many doctors had experienced low morale, but hoped the new contract would change that.

"We hope it will reinvigorate general practice, and it looks as though GPs are recognising this fact - although there is still some way to go."

Health Minister John Hutton said: "New working arrangements will improve the working lives of GPs and bring even more doctors into general practice - above and beyond the 2,500 already recruited since 1997.

"Primary care continues to command high levels of satisfaction amongst patients and it will go on improving in the years ahead because of the investment and reforms that are being made."