Trends and Determinants of GPs Work Hours in the UK: A Quantitative Study

Abstract

Background

• Limited information on work hours of UK doctors.
• Existing data primarily from self-designed questionnaires in England.

Aim

• To analyze trends in physician work hours and their determinants.

Design & Setting

• Quantitative study using data from the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from 1998-2020 in the UK.

Method

• Descriptive and linear regression models for labor supply were used.
• Focus on doctors (pooled), GPs, and hospital doctors.

Results

• Headcounts: Hospital doctors increased by 128.79%, GPs by 45.28%.
• Work hours dropped: Hospital doctors by 20.80%, GPs by 25.37%.
• Annual stock of hours: Hospital doctors grew by 81.20%, GPs by 8.42%.
• Female doctors worked fewer hours than males.
• Family decisions are a determinant of work hours.

Conclusion

• Despite increased headcount, GPs' work hours dropped.
• Female GPs more likely to work part-time due to family commitments.

Introduction

• Shortage of health workers in the UK, especially doctors and nurses.
• Government plans to recruit more GPs, but success is uncertain.
• Need for better understanding of supply and demand dynamics.
• Existing literature focuses on hospital doctors, limited on GPs.
• Study provides new evidence for the UK (1998-2020).
• Examines impact of marriage, childbearing, and overtime on work hours.

Method

• Data from QLFS with
  • Quarterly cross-sectional datasets.
  • Covers socio-economic changes and labour market characteristics.
• Identified doctors using SOC and SIC codes.
• Analysis based on self-constructed variable of total work hours per week.
• Linear regression models used to estimate work hours.

Results

Descriptive Statistics

• GPs accounted for 35.29% of the sample.
• Higher proportion of female doctors among GPs than hospital doctors.
• Average work hours: 44.66 hours/week overall, 40.60 for GPs, 46.87 for hospital doctors.

Trends

• Headcount increase: 128.79% for hospital doctors, 45.28% for GPs.
• Work hours reduction: More significant in hospital doctors than GPs.
• Female GPs worked significantly fewer hours than male GPs.

Regression Analysis

• GPs worked fewer hours than hospital doctors.
• Female doctors worked fewer hours overall.
• Impact of marriage/cohabitation and childbearing on work hours.

Discussion

Summary

• Examined work hour trends from 1998-2020.
• Headcounts grew, but average weekly hours fell.
• Studied determinants like feminisation, family decisions, and overtime.

Implications

• Important for policy makers to improve training, recruitment, and retention.
• Need to address female doctors' part-time work.

Limitations

• QLFS not based on the specific population of UK doctors.
• No granular specialty information for hospital doctors.
• Excludes wages due to lack of earnings info for self-employed GPs.

Funding and Ethical Considerations

• Funded by Economic and Social Research Council.
• Ethical approval was not required.

Acknowledgements

• Supported by the National Institute of Health and Care Research.
• Thanks to collaborators and mentors for their support and insights.

References

• A range of sources from scholarly articles to government reports were used.