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 2,000 GP practices sampled in England, 53 per cent returned a completed survey questionnaire representing approximately 13 per cent of all English Practices. Of the 200 practices sampled in Wales, 57 per cent returned a completed survey questionnaire representing approximately 23 per cent of all Welsh Practices.