English GP surgeries reach new patient 'breaking point'
Posted: 06 Jan 2016, 09:46Large numbers of GP surgeries in England have stopped taking on new patients or have applied to do so, a BBC investigation has found.
The British Medical Association (BMA) says many are at "breaking point" as they struggle to fill staff vacancies.
At least 100 surgeries applied to NHS England to stop accepting new patients in 2014/15, a Freedom of Information request revealed.
NHS England said it was investing £15m to boost the workforce.
At the beginning of November, 299 surgeries were indicating on the NHS Choices website - which provides patients with information about surgeries in their local area - that they were not taking on new patients.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35200033
The British Medical Association (BMA) says many are at "breaking point" as they struggle to fill staff vacancies.
At least 100 surgeries applied to NHS England to stop accepting new patients in 2014/15, a Freedom of Information request revealed.
NHS England said it was investing £15m to boost the workforce.
At the beginning of November, 299 surgeries were indicating on the NHS Choices website - which provides patients with information about surgeries in their local area - that they were not taking on new patients.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35200033