Many GP surgeries in England at ‘breaking point’

An investigation by the BBC has discovered that many English GP surgeries have stopped or applied to stop taking on new patients.

According to the British Medical Association, many have reached “breaking point” as they are having difficulty filling staff vacancies.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed that in the year 2014-15, more than 100 surgeries applied to NHS England to close their doors to new patients.

NHS England has said “When we receive a request to close a GP practice list, we consider both the impact on patients as well as on neighbouring practices and services to avoid displacing a problem elsewhere.”

The BMA’s GP committee chairman Dr Chaand Nagpul, said that practices were having difficulty recruiting new doctors.

He said “GP services are reaching breaking point as they struggle to cope with rising patient demand, falling resources and a shortage of GPs.

“Closing their list is the only option to maintain safe care to their local community.”

Chief executive of the Patients Association Katherine Murphy, said “The news that such a large number of practices have closed their lists to new patients is extremely worrying for patients and will mean even more will struggle to get the care they need.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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