Over 500 surgeries at risk of closure as GP workforce crisis deepens

Up to 600 GP practices across the UK could be forced to close within the next year because of a deepening crisis in GP recruitment and retention. New figures released by the Royal College of General Practitioners show that more than 90% of the GPs working in these practices are now aged over 60. This will leave many practices unable to replace family doctors who are retiring from the profession. The alarm bells for the future of patient care were sounded by Dr Maureen Baker, Chair of the RCGP in her inaugural speech to the College’s national conference in Liverpool