GP surgeries near tipping point over appointments

Fears over future of clinics

- Hanna Geissler

THE majority of doctor appointments will soon no longer be delivered by GPs, researchers have warned.

Experts found the number of practices in England has dropped by a fifth over the past decade - at the same time more patients join surgery lists.

And while the number of staff working in surgeries, such as administrators, has risen during this period the number of GPs per 1,000 patients has fallen.

This will lead to a "tipping point" in the near future, the team of researchers said.

Unsustainable