Rural NHS doctors are being paid up to £10,000 more than city doctors, new statistics have revealed.
Figures released by the NHS Information Centre showed rural GPs on average earned £115,309 before tax last year, compared with £105,970 for their urban colleagues – but overall doctors’ incomes were decreasing.
Those working in East England earned the most, with an average salary of £118,703. Doctors in the South West had the lowest salaries at £98,356.
A spokeswoman for the British Medical Association said: “The difference in the earnings between rural and urban GPs is mainly because a greater proportion of rural GP practices also have a dispensary. This essentially means they’re running two businesses.
“In general, GP partner income is falling and that’s because practice resources have been frozen for three years, yet expenses, which includes giving staff proper pay rises, have been steadily increasing.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the government had achieved dramatic improvements in GP services as well as getting better value for money for taxpayers.
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