The GP Practice Vacancies Survey was conducted for the first time in 2005. It collects and supplies data about GP recruitment in England and Wales, formerly provided by the GP Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy Survey (GP RRV). It also provides data on nurse and other staff vacancies in GP practices.
The survey method used was to sample 2,000 randomly selected GP practices in England and 200 practices in Wales, stratified geographically by DH boundaries. From the sampled data, the GP Practice Vacancies Survey produces estimated vacancy figures at English Strategic Health Authority-level and Welsh Government Office Region-level for GPs, Practice Nurses/Nurse Practitioners and other Practice Staff. Of the 2,200 GP practices sampled, 1,404 returned a completed survey questionnaire; a response rate of 64%, representing 16% of all GP practices.