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The doctors’ union BMA Cymru Wales has said more than 80% of GPs surveyed in Wales fear they are unable to provide quality care because of excessive workloads and rising demand.

The British Medical Association has launched a ‘Save Our Surgeries’ campaign for a rescue package from the Welsh Government to “save” general practice.

A report by the organisation claims Wales has a deficit of 664 GPs, compared with similar countries, with 84 surgery closures in the last decade and an overspend of almost £11 million on managed practices by health boards.

There are now 18% fewer surgeries available to people with GPs taking on an unsustainable 32% more patients each.

The Save Our Surgeries report shows that there are just 2,324 GPs in Wales with only 1,445 working full-time and over a quarter (26.6%) are planning to leave the profession in the near future according to the BMA’s latest survey.

Dr Gareth Oelmann, Chair of BMA Cymru Wales GP Committee said: “Today is a defining moment for general practice in Wales, a final plea to those in power to listen to our grave concerns and to step in and save the service from collapse.

“Recent activity data shows that last year alone, GP surgeries received a total of 27 million phone calls, with 19 million appointments offered, 1.3 million referrals to secondary care made and a total of 56 million prescription items issued all within a population of three million.

“Despite the remarkable efforts of hardworking GPs across Wales, the future of general practice hangs on a precipice because of longstanding underinvestment.

“The strain has been felt up and down the country, we have heard from GPs who have been unable to recruit permanent staff for years on end, examples of extreme burnout and a rising number of surgeries having to close their doors as a result leaving thousands of patients having to be treated elsewhere.

“The BMA Cymru Wales campaign ‘Save Our Surgeries’ calls on the Welsh Government to commit to a rescue package to support GPs and their patients. With the correct level of support, General Practice can thrive again, ensuring the family doctor’s role in the care of future generations.”

The Welsh Government claimed there were 1,974 GPs registered as of September last year – 11 more than in September 2020 and 48 more than in 2017. However the BMA said these figures did not take into account full or part-time positions.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We continue to take steps to reduce pressure on GPs, such as the introduction of NHS 111 Wales and increasing the range of services community pharmacists can provide. The new unified GP contract will help to reduce bureaucracy and free up more time for GPs to see patients.”