GPs back at work a fortnight after giving birth due to lack of cover 

In 2019, 284 doctors reported leaving the medical register for family or personal reasons, with maternity leave frequently being cited as the reason for withdrawal. Picture: Pexels

Female general practitioners are returning to work as soon as two weeks after giving birth, due to an inability to source maternity leave cover, a representative group has claimed.

When a GP takes an extended period of time off, such as maternity leave, they are responsible for putting a locum in place. However, due to a “manpower shortage”, many practices are unable to find cover, resulting in new mothers returning to work early.