When do GPs stop practising?

Answer 1

Interestingly the answer is when they choose to. Before the recent contract was introduced in 2005, there was a compulsory retirement age of 70 years. In this day and age this was unusual in itself. For reasons unclear this was removed under the new contract. I am not sure what the government actually had in mind when this odd change was made. All GPs now have to undergo a formal yearly assessment every year and a 5 yearly grand assessment is being introduced shortly.

In practise very few GPs now stay full time much past 60 years.

Answer 2

They stop practising when they've had enough - usually when they get a decent pension. GP's can, when they have enough years in, retire (for a day) and then draw a pension and a salary if they start working again.

Answer 3

I stopped at 47, miss the patients but not the long days. Otherwise, you practise until you get it right, and as medicine is both an art and a science, one can never be perfect.

Answer 4

When they decide to retire, the doctor at my surgery has been there for years, he owns part of the practise and he retired, only at holiday times and if another doctor is off sick he stands in for them, he's a great doctor.

Answer 5

why do they say practising they should be able to just be a doctor

either when they get struck off or they retire

Answer 6

Often about 10 years after they should, about 15 years after they stop reading their updates and about 20 years after they stop taking refresher courses.

In other words, when they finally realise they know bugger all and they don't give a damn about their patients.

Answer 7

Usually when they retire, unless they are unfortunate enough to get struck off.

Answer 8

When they can no longer hold a stethoscope.

Answer 9

When they retire.

Answer 10

until they get it right, which for most of them is never.