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NHS at breaking point from overuse and budget cuts as 175 GPs across England REFUSE to take new patients

Commons Health Committee boss calls for more funding to stop the crisis

THE number of GP practices trying to stop taking on new patients has more than doubled in the last year.

The Sun found 175 surgeries had claimed they were too full to take on newcomers in 2015-2016.

 Fund plea . . . Dr Sarah
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Fund plea . . . Dr SarahCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

That was up from 77 the previous year, NHS England figures reveal

And health officials warn it “is likely to get worse” as the NHS reaches breaking point from overuse and budget cuts.

The East was worst affected, with 32 surgeries bidding to put a cap on patients compared to six a year earlier.

In Cumbria and the North East, 23 practices applied compared to six the previous year.

Yorkshire and Humberside had 21 apply, up from 12.

Commons Health Committee boss Dr Sarah Wollaston called for more funding to stop the crisis.

The Tory MP said The Sun’s findings, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, “reflect the pressure that general practices are under”.

She also said the NHS “needs to be properly funded as otherwise it is likely to get worse.”

 MP Andrea Jenkyns said the state of general practices was “incredibly worrying”.
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MP Andrea Jenkyns said the state of general practices was “incredibly worrying”.Credit: Rex Features

BMA GP Committee chairman Dr Chand Nagpaul added: “GP practices are being overwhelmed by a toxic combination of rocketing demand for appointments, falling budgets and staff shortages.

“We need the government to urgently act on its promises and provide GP services with the staff and funds they desperately need.”

 £2.4bn package to help doctors from NHS England
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£2.4bn package to help doctors from NHS EnglandCredit: Shutterstock

Some 81 surgeries approached NHS England about closing in 2015-2016, up from 43.

Health Select Committee member MP Andrea Jenkyns said the state of general practices was “incredibly worrying”.

NHS England said: “We know GPs are under pressure and we recently announced further steps to help them as part of a £2.4billion package.”

  • A BID to ban GPs from referring non-urgent patients to hospitals in Merseyside to save money has been blocked after public backlash.
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