ALMOST half a million pounds has been allocated to help Isle of Wight GPs and their practices.

The funding will enable shorter working days, career opportunities, a workforce hub and support for GPs to manage their workload, among other initiatives.

The funding is part of a £3 million programme of work by NHS England across seven sites in the UK and is designed to help areas that have struggled to recruit and retain GPs.

On the Island there are 16 GP practices with 77 GPs. However, some doctors nearing retirement age, and the prospect of increasing vacancies and the difficulties in filling these has caused concern on the Island.

Tracy Savage, deputy director of quality and head of medicines optimisation for NHS Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “In common with other areas, the Island faces real challenges with both the recruitment and retention of GPs at a time of unprecedented demand for their services.

“We really welcome this £400,000 funding, and in discussion with our GP practices, we have developed an action plan which will enable us to use this extra money effectively and target the support where it is needed the most, so we can meet the needs of Island patients.”

Dr Margarita Kitova-John, GP and chair of One Wight Health, the Island’s GP federation said: “Our Island GPs are working around the clock to try and ensure that we can deliver the best possible care for Island patients.

“However this is not sustainable, and we need to make some significant changes to the way we work if we are to retain our GPs and continue to provide the level of care needed by our local population.

“This funding will help us on our journey to do that, enabling us to give additional support to GPs, to help improve their work/life balance, but to also provide support to practices so they can recruit to vacant GP posts."

The funding must be used by the end of March 2019 when the work undertaken will be independently evaluated.