Date Time Numbers of GPs wanting to leave already high before COVID, finds survey The number of GPs who say they were likely to quit direct patient care within five years was 37%, even before the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey carried out by University of Manchester researchers. The figure was 63% in GPs over 50. Even among younger GPs (under the age of 50), more than one in every ten (11%) said they were planning to leave. These figures show a slight decline since 2017, but this remains a concern, and intentions to quit within 5 years in those over 50 have increased from 62% in 2017.