Hundreds of villages lose their GP surgeries, leaving elderly and vulnerable patients having to travel further for appointments
- Coastal and rural areas are suffering most with patients forced to travel further
- Research showed 1,946 villagers are not at least three miles from closest GP
- GPs say they are stretched too thinly because of a shortage of 5,000 doctors
Hundreds of villages have lost their GP surgeries, according to a national survey.
Coastal and rural areas are suffering the most with elderly and vulnerable patients being forced to travel further for appointments.
The research showed 1,946 villages are now at least three miles from their closest GP practice – 162 more than two years ago.
Some patients were required to travel up to 14 miles in rural areas.
GPs say they are stretched too thinly because of a shortage of 5,000 doctors. They also said that younger medics were less likely to want to work in rural areas.
Coastal and rural areas are suffering the most with elderly and vulnerable patients being forced to travel further for appointments (file image)
‘Rural, coastal and deprived areas always struggle the most to attract GPs, but with a national shortage, they are being hardest hit,’ said Helen Stokes-Lampard, who is chairman of the Royal College of GPs. ‘They are the canary in the mine for a problem across the country.’
The professor told the Daily Telegraph that rural doctors often had large numbers of elderly patients, long working days and heavy workloads – amounting to ‘relentless pressure’.
‘For many people the idea of retiring to a coastal village or a rural area seems idyllic but it doesn’t always work out that way for those working there,’ she added.
Among the districts hit worst are South Gloucestershire, South Northamptonshire and Cornwall. In the past six years almost two million patients have been affected by 585 surgery closures, according to data analysed by Pulse magazine.
Additional figures from the Department of Transport show there has been a 40 per cent spike in two years in those having to travel for more than an hour by public transport to reach a doctor.
In 2016, 137,957 families had to travel this far. But in 2014 the figure had stood at 99,516. The number of GPs retiring early, quitting or going part-time is on the increase, making the situation worse.
Rachel Power, who is chief executive of the Patients Association, said the closures meant patients wait longer to see a doctor and ultimately end up relying on accident and emergency when they become too ill.
She said: ‘Escalating rates of closures among rural GP practices risk serious consequences for many patients: increased difficulty in securing an appointment, longer waits for people when they have concerns about their health, and greater risks to patient safety.’

In 2016, 137,957 families had to travel this far. But in 2014 the figure had stood at 99,516. The number of GPs retiring early, quitting or going part-time is on the increase, making the situation worse (file image)
Caroline Abrahams, charity director for Age UK, said: ‘These figures are a wake-up call for the NHS – and for everyone who cares about the ability of older people to live independently for as long as possible if they live in a rural or coastal area.’
Efforts are being made to recruit doctors from abroad. Mevagissey, a fishing village in Cornwall, launched a campaign – dubbed ‘Will You Be My GP?’ – to find one to save its surgery.
a.clarke@dailymail.co.uk