DOCTORS' surgeries could end up reaching breaking point as they come under extra pressure by taking on thousands of patients whose own practices are closing.

The warning comes as it was announced last week Brighton and Hove would lose a further four surgeries by the end of this year, while other practices have been struggling to find enough staff to cope with increased demand.

One GP speaking to The Argus described the situation as "reaching breaking point", while healthwatch Brighton and Hove chief executive David Liley said he was "deeply concerned" about the knock-on the closures would have on patients.

He said: “We are deeply concerned when patients are affected by closures of surgeries, whether the cause is a commercial decision or as a result of the quality of a service is failing.

“We know it takes a long time to qualify to become a general practitioner and the pressures are enormous on individuals who opt for this branch of medicine.

“According to the NHS Confederation, nearly 6,000 more GPs were employed in 2014 compared to 10 years earlier, but with the health policy emphasis on primary care, there are insufficient trained GPs coming through the system to meet the growing demand.

“This has led to the recruitment of trained medical staff from overseas to plug the gap, but, in the long term, there is only one answer.

“We need to train more GPs and funding has to be put in place to achieve that.”

The GP, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It has become very difficult. Patients obviously need to have a service but it can be hard to recruit enough workers. I'm worried that some could reach breaching point.

“This is a problem that is affecting everywhere in the country, not just here.”

In addition to two surgeries which closed last year, four surgeries in the city - with roughly 9,700 patients on their books - will have closed by September this year after the private company which runs them announced it was pulling out of its contract.

The surgeries affected The Practice Whitehawk Road, Willow House in Bevendean, Hangleton Manor in Hove and The Practice North Street. The future of the Brighton Homeless Healthcare Surgery is still unsecured with current provision ending next January.

Elsewhere in the county, some practices are announcing their lists are full, meaning patients at those surgeries could face longer waiting times for appointments and those who cannot make the list are having to travel further to see a GP.

Campaigners believe a combination of potential cuts in funding and a shortage of GPs is making it increasingly difficult to find new surgeries willing to open and take on new patients.

Katrina Miller from Sussex Defend the NHS said: “Some practices are announcing that their lists are full. I believe The Avenue Surgery in Bevendean is one such so The Willows patients are being directed to the Lewes Road surgery - a costly bus ride.

"Patients in the receiving practices are also concerned about waiting times because of the much larger list.

"There is a high percentage of our GPs who are coming up to retirement within the next five years and there is some concern about replacing.

“The GP specialism has never been less popular amongst trainee doctors. There are fewer trainees opting for this now than ever before.

“GPs are having to work longer and longer hours as the government put more and more health care onto them and demand more and more form-filling for them to claim their funds.”

In a letter to patients affected by the latest round of closures, NHS England South director of commissioning Sarah Macdonald said: "We are working with The Practice Group and the other local receiving GP practices to ensure a smooth transfer of patient care and to make sure any vulnerable patients who may require additional support or information can access this.

“This will also align with Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group’s plans to invest in local GP and community services.”

Any patients with further queries are invited to call NHS England on 01293 729298 or to email england.primarycare.southeast@nhs.net.