Chairs of the association's GP committees have written to Streeting to collectively raise their concerns about the growing GP unemployment crisis, and how it will be exacerbated when GP registrars qualify in August.

GP unemployment has been steadily worsening over the past couple of years, as a lack of funding means practices have to choose between keeping their doors open and hiring the GPs they need.

With so few jobs available, positions are usually miles away from where GPs live and span multiple sites, making it harder for doctors to build relationships with their patients.

The letter comes as the BMA launches a social media campaign to #endGPunemployment by raising awareness of the impact it's having on GPs – both newly qualified and experienced – across the UK.

The BMA is calling for ring-fenced funding for practices to use solely for the purpose of hiring more GPs, as well as an urgent meeting with Streeting.

Dr Cheska Ball and Dr Vicki McKay, co-chairs of the BMA's GP registrars committee, said: ‘It's devastating to think that, after years of hard work and study, new GPs might not be able to start their careers - and we risk losing them to other professions as a result.

‘The few roles that are available to new GPs are incredibly competitive and even if someone manages to get one, they're often fixed-term and not conducive to what being a family doctor means.'

Dr Mark Steggles, chair of the sessional GP committee, said: ‘We first saw the issue of unemployment happening among GP locums, but it's spread, quickly, into other parts of the profession.

‘We've heard terrible stories about how the struggle to find work is affecting GPs at all stages of their careers. This is exactly why we need practice-based, ring-fenced funding to get more GPs, regardless of where they are in their careers, back into general practice.'

Dr Katie Bramall, chair of GPC England, added: 'We have seen more funding and more flexibility since the Labour Government came into power, but this unemployment crisis, many years in the making, alongside severely constrained practice finances, needs action now to both retain these GPs and give patients more appointments. 

'We know public finances are tight - but the best bang for an NHS buck is to provide ringfenced reimbursements at a practice-level to get as many GPs seeing patients as soon as possible.'

In response, a DHSC spokesperson, said: ‘GPs are the front door to our NHS, and through our Plan for Change we are bringing back the family doctor, cutting red tape and investing more in the NHS.

 ‘We have already recruited more than 1,500 GPs and we are now making it easier for primary care settings to hire GPs. We have also provided the biggest boost to GP funding in years – an extra £889m – and are investing £102m in surgery upgrades.'