Nearly 1.5 million patients have lost their GP in the last eight years after the closure of almost 500 practices, research has suggested.
Issues around recruitment were a factor in the closure of about two-fifths of the surgeries, while workloads and inadequate premises were also cited as triggers.
The investigation, by Pulse magazine, revealed for the first time the number of premises that have closed for good since 2013.
Previously, research has identified the number of practices where GP partners have returned their contracts, or certain branches have closed or merged with others.
But this latest report is the first to show where a surgery has closed in a certain postcode and not been replaced, forcing patients to travel further to see a doctor, the research claimed.
Since 2013, 474 practices have permanently closed without being replaced by another premises, leaving 1,492,111 patients without their local GP, said Pulse.
'Considerable' impact on patients
The research also revealed that the closed practices were more likely to be in deprived geographical areas and had smaller patient lists than average.
Prof Martin Marshall, the chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “The impact of a practice closing on its patients and neighbouring practices can be considerable. As such, a decision to close a practice will be one of the most difficult a GP partner can make.”
He added that practices can, in some cases, merge with another to pool resources. However, he added: “When the reason for closing a practice is workload pressures, and not being able to fill vacancies, then this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
The report came after recent modelling suggested one in four GP posts could be vacant in 10 years, raising concerns around patient safety and quality of care.
The Health Foundation think tank found the current shortage of 4,200 full-time equivalent GPs in England is set to rise to 10,700 in 2030-31.
It was reported last month that GPs are being offered more than £1,000 for a day’s work as a locum doctor, as “desperate” surgeries try to plug staff shortages.
Previous investigations by Pulse have identified about 800 GP practice closures. However, these include cases where they have been replaced by another surgery in the same postcode.
Closures 'deeply concerning'
Jaimie Kaffash, the editor of Pulse, said: “Even when practices are replaced by more modern premises elsewhere, it still has an effect, especially for vulnerable patients who may be inconvenienced and often miss out on the continuity of care they’d had before the closure.
“Our investigation clearly shows that surgeries that close tend to do so as a result of the pressures that all GP practices are facing.
“In many cases, it is triggered by the resignation of a single GP and lack of GPs to replace them, which has meant the workload on the remaining GPs becomes unsustainable.
“We call on all NHS managers and health ministers to prioritise supporting general practice with concrete measures and funding that does not come with extra workload.”
Dr David Wrigley, the British Medical Association England GP committee deputy chairman, said: “People having access to their local practice is essential to ensure their health needs are met, and it is deeply concerning so many are seeing their practice close.
“Losing your GP practice and having to move to another means losing the vital continuity of care that keeps people well, improves health outcomes and which makes general practice the bedrock of the NHS in the UK.
“For smaller practices, already on the sharp end of the workforce crisis in general practice, the loss of just a single GP has the potential to be catastrophic for a community."
Promise of more appointments
An NHS spokesman said: “These figures show that only around 20 general practices have closed over the last year, which is a tiny fraction of the 6,485 practices that offer patients care.
“The NHS has invested record amounts in general practice this year, alongside the number of staff increasing by 18,000 since 2019, well ahead of the Government's target.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said almost 1,500 more doctors are working in general practice as of June 2022, compared with the same month in 2019.
“We have invested £520 million to expand GP capacity during the pandemic, on top of £1.5 billion until 2024, and we are making 4,000 training places available for GPs each year to help create an extra 50 million appointments a year,” said the spokesman.
