Patients are reporting waiting times of up to three weeks at GP practises in Weymouth, amid news that Abbotsbury Road surgery is to close.

Recruitment issues are being blamed for the closure: the CCG says it is unable to recruit new staff to replace doctors when they retire.

The surgery will close on March 31, meaning that 9,000 patients will be moved to other practices.

The CGG, which runs the surgery, says it will "seamlessly transfer people to their nearest, or next nearest GP".

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According to NHS England there is a recruitment problem for GPs and nurses nationally, and local campaigners have been carrying out research into whether patients at other surgeries in Weymouth have been affected by the issue.

Residents were consulted at a recent street stall event, organised by South Dorset Labour Party.

A spokesman for the group said three surgeries "are clearly under pressure", according to feedback from local people.

One resident commented: “My GP used to be able to offer minor surgery - like removing warts - as well as providing services such as removing ear wax.

"He now says he is no longer allowed to carry out these services, which makes the job far less rewarding”.

People also reported appointment waiting times of two to three weeks, and two practices have cut drop-in services.

"GPs are now in the front line of collecting data on smoking and obesity, which has imposed extra bureaucracy but less job satisfaction," a South Dorset Labour Party spokesman said.

However it's not all doom and gloom, according to the feedback. Nine other surgeries appear to be unaffected, and patients at nearly all surgeries were appreciative or supportive – even those which were understaffed, campaigners say.

Healthcare campaigner Grafton Straker said: “For people who use the Abbotsbury Road surgery the planned closure is very worrying.

"They know other surgeries they may be transferred to are also under pressure.

“Ideally we would like to see the recruitment problems overcome and the closure of Abbotsbury Road reversed.

“We will be asking the CCG to explain how they will be supporting Chickerell to meet extra demand when new homes are built, and how other surgeries will cope with other planned housing developments, such as at Littlemoor.”

A spokesman for the NHS said the problem with recruitment is believed to be due to a drop in applicants from the EU, as well as "far fewer newly qualified doctors going into GP practice, opting instead to work in a hospital, or privately, or abroad."

A drop-in event was held for patients of Abbotsbury Road Surgery.

The session on Wednesday 9 January saw GPs from local practices, as well as staff from the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), sit down to hear patients’ concerns and answer questions.

Patients were recently told which surgeries they are being transferred to when the closure comes into effect.

Many were reported to be feeling "reassured" in this article, published by the Dorset Echo on Monday January 14.