One in three GP surgeries have closed to non-urgent bookings in the past year because they are so busy

ONE in three GP surgeries have closed to non-urgent bookings in the past year because they are so busy, a poll found.

High demand and falling GP numbers mean practices temporarily blocked patients who did not need immediate medical care while they tackled their workload.

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A survey by GP magazine Pulse revealed 292 surgeries out of 824 — 35 per cent — had to ration appointments recently.

Kent GP Gaurav Gupta said: “It is not surprising that practices have at times been unable to provide the services they want to provide.

“GP numbers have been constantly falling.

"This is unsustainable and puts GPs and practice staff under enormous pressure, as well as having a potential negative impact on patient care.”

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NHS figures last week showed family doctors are doing record numbers of appointments themselves — around half a million every day.

Many work 12-hour days and see over 50 patients in a day to tackle the backlog.

When surgeries get overloaded they can suspend bookings for routine appointments and focus only on urgent cases.

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Norfolk GP Nick Morton said: “When we are overwhelmed we stop pretending we have enough resources.

"Patients are directed to the walk-in centre, pharmacies or A&E."