A DOCTOR has called for better investment in general practice in a bid to stem the rising number of surgeries closing.

Russell Brown, a GP in Polegate, spoke out as a survey revealed two in every five doctors are planning to leave.

Brighton and Hove has had seven surgeries close in the last two years although the city’s clinical commissioning group says there are no indications at the moment that any more are due to shut.

Dr Brown, who is the British Medical Association’s (BMA) rep for East Sussex, said: “The colossal rise in the number of patients across the country being forced to move surgery is a result of the Government’s failure to address the recruitment, workload and funding crisis in general practice, which has pushed practices to the point of closure.

“The closure of a large number of GP practices in Brighton, among the worst in the country, has meant thousands of patients have been displaced and left to find care elsewhere.

“This is sadly not an unusual occurrence.

“A recent survey from the BMA showed more than 300 GP practices in England were facing closure while many more are having to consider closing their practice lists because they cannot safely treat the sheer number of patients coming through their surgery doors and unmanageable workloads are leaving many GPs unable to cope.

“We cannot allow a situation where patients are left without access to a family doctor or are constantly moved from one practice to another.

“Rather than making empty promises that fall short of what is needed, the Government must urgently invest in general practice as it is patients and communities who are suffering the consequences.”

Figures published last month show there has been a drop in the number of GPs working in the NHS despite Government aims to recruit 5,000 more by 2020.

A survey of more than 2,000 GPs in the South West of England found many were planning to leave, while others were considering taking a career break or reducing their hours.

The researchers said the findings provided a snapshot of low morale which, if reflected in other regions, could point to a deeper and more imminent worsening in the shortage of GPs nationwide.

Professor John Campbell, who lead the study, said: “We carried out this survey because of a nationally recognised crisis in the shortage of GPs across the country.

“Our findings show an even bleaker outlook than expected for GP cover, even in an area which is often considered desirable, and which has many rural communities.

“If GPs have similar intentions to leave or reduce their hours in other regions, as many are reporting, the country needs to take robust action more swiftly and urgently than previously thought.”

The Department of Health said it had plans to improve conditions in general practice and is now training the highest number of GPs since records began.

It is investing £2.4 billion more into primary care, making extra payments to GPs, and cutting red tape while increasing flexible working.