Urgent action is needed to avoid a crisis among over-worked GPs in Tendring, it has been revealed.
Dr Gary Sweeney, a Clacton GP, says up to eight new doctors are needed in Tendring to stop the growing problem of too many patients and too few doctors.
He said: "There's a bit of a problem with getting doctors recruited for this part of the world. We are not in crisis yet but it won't take an awful lot before things start to get very difficult."
Dr Sweeney said some GPs were closing their books as they already had too many patients.
Talks are taking place to try to find a temporary solution but Dr Sweeney said more money was needed to provide the extra doctors.
The money would come from Tendring Primary Care Trust, but the Trust itself is currently underfunded.
Dr Sweeney, who is on the PCT himself, said the problem was most acute in Clacton and Dovercourt.
If someone is turned down by a surgery the health authority can allocate a GP to take them, but the process is lengthy, Dr Sweeney added.
He said: "The GPs are feeling very, very unhappy, they are saying 'we are distressed, we will have to start saying what is it you don't want us to do?'"
It is thought that eight doctors would ease the problem, but those calculations do not take into account the high numbers of people in Tendring who are elderly, have mental health problems or the number of nursing homes.
Each doctor and their associated support network would cost between £70,000 and £80,000 annually.
One temporary idea the PCT is considering is to bring in one new locum-style doctor for Clacton, Dr Sweeney said.
If the problem continues, GPs could refer their patients to hospital, where more money has been invested, he added.
Last year 1,000 new patients were allocated to doctors in Clacton.
Dr Sweeney has 2,800 patients on his books although the national average is 1,800.
By Mark Beales
Reporter's e-mail: mark_beales@thisisessex.co.uk
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