Huge shortage of doctors in Essex - Lib Dems call for review
Originally published by Chelmsford Liberal Democrats
Essex has lost nearly 100 GPs (from 930 to 820) over the last three years and many of those have gone part-time, meaning even less availability. There is an even larger shortage of Occupational Therapists (35% of all OT jobs in Essex are vacant), and all other NHS staff types have around 15% of the jobs vacant.
250 of the Essex GPs are over 55 and could retire over the next ten years. So we are already down 100, more could go, the population is rising and so are the needs of the population.
These figures came after Essex Lib Dem Health spokesperson Cllr. Stephen Robinson called for an investigation by Essex County Council's Health Overview Committee. Cllr. Robinson now wants the council to lobby Government to ensure that some of the recently-announced cash for the NHS comes to Essex to help fill staffing gaps.