TWO IN FIVE GP’s in the South West have said they intend to quit within the next five years, following a survey.

Over 2,000 GP’s took part in a survey run by the University of Exeter, exposing the scale of the healthcare crisis which may mean future challenges for Dorset.

Dr Jon Orrell, a Weymouth GP and Green Party councillor, said: “It’s becoming a crisis, not just down here but across the country.

“There are eight practices in town and four of them are having trouble recruiting. There was a time when a job would be posted and you would get 100 applicants. Now the practices are getting none at all.”

Over 50% of GP’s who took part in the survey reported that they had low morale in their job.

Dr Orrell said: “GP’s look after about 90% of patients for 9% of the budget. It’s still a great job, but there’s that extra workload.”

Professor John Campbell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the research and is also a practising GP, said: “GP morale is low because of workload pressures, and many younger GP’s do not want the financial risk and responsibilities of taking on a practice.”

Professor Campbell also spoke of the trouble with an ‘ageing workforce,’ as 30 percent of current GP’s are over 50 years old.

Dr Orrell said: “There’s a lot of GP’s nearing retirement. A lot of people went into general practice at the same time. Now that group are getting close to leaving in the next five years.”

Seven out of ten GP’s also revealed that they would change their working patterns to have less contact with patients. This would include reducing their hours or leaving patient care.

Joyce Guest, Healthwatch Dorset chairperson, said: “GP's are central to the NHS and local people rely on them.

“The knock-on effect of fewer GP's is fewer GP surgeries and that will make it harder for people to access the health services they need, especially in rural areas of Dorset.”