A LEADING Swindon GP has spoken out after a survey revealed two in five south-west GPs are considering quitting the NHS in the next year.

Dr Peter Swinyard, who runs Toothill’s Phoenix Surgery said he ‘wasn’t surprised by the from Exeter Medical School’s study.

He said: “I can one hundred per cent understand the results of this survey. From speaking to people in the profession I know the pressures are mounting.

“The problems of surgeries being squeezed tighter and tighter by the secretary of state for health and, of course, blaming us for everything do nothing to help morale or encourage people to want to stay in the profession. It is a great shame.”

In the wake of a negative CQC report Dr Swinyard himself said he wanted to leave the profession within a year.

He said: “I am still surviving on my pension and I do plan to retire soon.

"The pressures are still there but I enjoy the clinical work I am doing. I just wish our time wasn’t taken up with administrative exercises.

“I have had a mountain of support since the results of the CQC report came back. It has really made me feel so much more positive about things."

The study involving 2,000 GPs who were coming up against issues such as dwindling funds and chronic recruitment problems.

In January the Government announced plans for surgeries to switch to a seven-day week, from 8am to 8pm, to reduce people attending under pressure A&E departments when they cannot get GP appointments.

Decision makers said extra funding will be made available to those who do decide to take up the seven-day service with surgeries exempt if they can prove the demand for appointments is not there.

Dr Krishna Kasaraneni, British Medical Association GP committee lead on education, training and workforce, said: “This study from Exeter Medical School demonstrates once again the enormous crisis facing general practice as it struggles to cope with rising patient demand, stagnating budgets and widespread staff shortages.

“As Government figures showed last month, the number of full time GPs is falling as many decide to leave the profession or retire earlier.

"Many GPs are voting with their feet because of the daily struggle of trying to provide enough appointments to patients without the resources or support they need.

"Given the uncertainty of whether the UK’s departure from the European Union will result in more overseas doctors leaving the NHS, this shortage could well get even worse in the years to come.

“With the NHS at breaking point, we need the Government to take the evidence of a workforce crisis seriously and act to implement a long term, well-funded plan that results in more GPs being available to treat the public.”