The average General Practitioner's pay has doubled over the last 20 years, according to the latest official figures released by the NHS.
The information, published in the NHS Information Centre, shows that in 1985/86 GPs earned the equivalent of £51,000 in today's money. In 2005/06, the second year of the new GP contract arrangements, the average family doctor made just over £110,000 including income from private work. It is estimated that 307 GPs made more than £250,000 in the year 2005/06 - more than double the number in the previous year.
But despite the apparent increase in GPs' earnings the British Medical Association remain sceptical about the validity of the figures.
Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the Association's GPs' Committee, said: "These are now historical figures relating to the planned increase in pay for GPs under the new contract.
"In recognition of the way family doctors' pay had fallen behind in the years leading up to the new contract, the government negotiated a system in which pay would rise significantly in the contract's second year.
"Since then, GPs have been singled out and their pay has been frozen with not even a cost of living increase in resources for their practices."
The GPC also pointed out that the Information Centre's figures cover not just earnings from being an NHS GP but also from non-NHS work such as insurance examinations, death certification and out of hours cover.
Earlier this month GPs voted to accept contract changes which would compel them to open their surgeries for longer hours and at weekends.
The information, published in the NHS Information Centre, shows that in 1985/86 GPs earned the equivalent of £51,000 in today's money. In 2005/06, the second year of the new GP contract arrangements, the average family doctor made just over £110,000 including income from private work. It is estimated that 307 GPs made more than £250,000 in the year 2005/06 - more than double the number in the previous year.
But despite the apparent increase in GPs' earnings the British Medical Association remain sceptical about the validity of the figures.
Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the Association's GPs' Committee, said: "These are now historical figures relating to the planned increase in pay for GPs under the new contract.
"In recognition of the way family doctors' pay had fallen behind in the years leading up to the new contract, the government negotiated a system in which pay would rise significantly in the contract's second year.
"Since then, GPs have been singled out and their pay has been frozen with not even a cost of living increase in resources for their practices."
The GPC also pointed out that the Information Centre's figures cover not just earnings from being an NHS GP but also from non-NHS work such as insurance examinations, death certification and out of hours cover.
Earlier this month GPs voted to accept contract changes which would compel them to open their surgeries for longer hours and at weekends.
