A MEETING will be held to update residents as their GP surgeries reach crisis point.

Surgeries in Frinton and Walton are struggling with a crippling lack of full-time doctors. From the end of January, there will be only one permanent doctor at Frinton’s Caradoc surgery catering for 8,000 residents.

Bosses have found recruitment tough and are relying on expensive locums to make up the shortfall.

Frinton and Walton town councillors said they were working hard to try to help the surgeries and will organise a public meeting early in the newyear to reassure and inform residents.

Mayor Iris Johnson said: “The council has been instrumental in discussions with practice managers to find a solution.

"We also met NHS Essex, but I was not impressed with the outcome there.

"It is difficult for them, but they were not as supportive as I feel they should have been.

“They talk about it getting to crisis point. We know we are already at crisis point and we need to keep pushing for our area.’’