T HE east of England is seeing an unprecedented fall in GP numbers, it has been revealed.

An analysis by the Nuffield Trust think tank shows nationally the number of GPs per 100,000 people has fallen from nearly 65 in 2014 to 60 last year.

In the east of England there are just 54.2 GPs while Scots have 76.2 doctors per 100,000 patients.

The shortage has lead to increased waiting times for appointments.

The 2018 NHS Patient Survey showed nearly a third of patients in the Basildon and Brentwood area had to wait a week or more to see their GPs – double that of five years ago.

One in six patients in Castle Point and Rochford faced similar delays, up from 10 per cent five years ago to 18 per cent

In Southend one in five patients struggled to see their GPs in under a week – an increase from 12 to 21 per cent.

According to Health Education England, the Mid and south Essex Sustainability Transformation Partnership is the most significantly challenged primary care workforce in the country with 33 per cent of GPs forecast to retire in the next five years - significantly higher than the national average of 21 per cent.

Within Castle Point and Rochford and Southend clinical commissioning group areas, 71 GPs aged over 55 and eligible to retire.

A spokesman for the Save Southend NHS campaign group said: “It's an issue that our campaign has been highlighting for some time now. Last year we organised a 'GP Forum' at the Beecroft in Southend to discuss the problem, inviting more than 90 GPs from across Mid and South Essex as well as over 200 practice nurses. We heard how difficult the work of a GP now is, with ever-increasing workloads and patient numbers which in turn greatly affects staff morale and eventually leads to 'burnout' and health professionals leaving the NHS.

“In Essex we are already particularly hard-hit with GP shortages with GP to patent ratios being amongst the worst in England. What is even more shocking is that half of all GPs currently working in Essex are up for retirement in the next 2-3 years; the consequences of this are truly frightening. In addition to too few medical staff being trained in the UK for many years now, and an over-reliance on employing overseas staff, we are caught in a vicious circle where Essex is seen as an unappealing place to work for GPs due to chronic understaffing and high work-related stress levels.”

The spokesman added: “The difficulty many people experience in even getting an appointment to see their doctor these days is shameful and wouldn't be happening if the NHS were properly funded and managed. We think that the STP's solution of creating 'Super Hubs', staffed by numerous GPs, is completely wrong.

“That vital and long-established link between patient and GP will be lost, resulting in illnesses being missed and patients suffering necessarily. Many patients will also have to travel long distances now that their local doctor's surgeries have been closed too. Ultimately it looks just like another cost-cutting exercise that's disingenuously promoted as being an improvement in patient care.”

A total of 120 GPs could be hired in south Essex in an attempt to tackle long waiting times caused by a shortage of doctors.

NHS bosses have said they are looking to plough £30million into a new strategy to help alleviate the pressure.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told the Echo: “GPs are the bedrock of the NHS, and the Long Term Plan makes clear our commitment to the future of general practice – backed by an extra £4.5 billion more a year for primary and community care by 2023/24.

“Last year a record 3,473 doctors were recruited into GP training and we remain committed to delivering 5,000 more GPs. The new historic five-year contract for general practice will provide greater certainty for GPs to plan ahead with funding towards up to 20,000 extra staff working in GP practices."

South Essex clinical commissioning groups were asked to comment.