GP surgery cuts patient list

There is currently a nationwide shortage of GPs

A doctors surgery in Gateshead has removed 900 patients from its list because of a shortage of GPs.

The patients concerned have been told they have three months to find a new doctor, even though many of them have been with The Medical Centre in Rowland's Gill for many years.

The move comes after the resignation of one of the GPs at the practice, Dr Geoffrey Smith.

His departure left three remaining doctors trying to cope with 9,000 patients on their books.

While it is an action we really didn't want to take... there really was no alternative

Dr Rob Dawson

All 900 removed patients live just over the border in County Durham.

Dr Rob Dawson, told BBC Radio Newcastle it had been a very difficult decision to make.

He said: "While many of these people will, as we are, be going through a grieving process, you really have to take on board that we simply could not cope.

"It would have been very disingenuous of us to pretend that we could continue to offer an adequate level of primary care to these patients with the resources that we have.

"While it is an action we really didn't want to take... there really was no alternative."

'No option'

Some patients have reacted angrily to the decision to take them off the surgery's books.

Cliff Goodwin, from Burnopfield, has been a patient at the Rowland's Gill surgery for 14 years.

He said: "My main problem is that we weren't given any other option.

"I have an elderly neighbour who has been there over 30 years and to be suddenly told you are living in the wrong place, therefore we don't want you any more, is just not good enough."