THE crisis facing ‘fragile’ surgeries is reaching a critical stage - with the revelation that two new doctors have to be hired to replace every retiring GP.

Over the last couple of years, the lack of new doctors taking up GP positions has left the service in dire straits.

Nowhere has this been more acute than the situation in West Kilbride Surgery, which will be left with just one doctor rather than the four it requires when one leaves their post in August.

It is expected to be run directly by the NHS from this point. Other surgeries have faced similar issues - with the three Towns Medical Practice also hit.

North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership - which includes North Ayrshire Council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran - will consider a report on the growing crisis at a meeting later this week.

As a result of the shortage, North Ayrshire’s surgeries have become more and more reliant on locum doctors - more costly than a permanent contracted doctor.

The number of retiring GPs is now greater than the number of new graduates joining up.

The report states: “The age profile of local General Medical Practitioners has become skewed with a higher proportion towards the end of their careers, resulting in the rate of retiral exceeding new entrants to the profession. This situation has been exacerbated by increasing difficulty in filling all available GP Trainee vacancies locally.

“It is also recognised that newly qualified GPs prefer to work on a less-than-fulltime basis and are increasingly opting for ‘portfolio careers’ with a part-time practice-based commitment (5 to 6 GP sessions = 2 ½ to 3 days) and a commitment to particular area of interest outwith traditional general practice.

“As a result, for every experienced GP who retires or leaves the area, two newly qualified GPs will need to be recruited to provide like-for-like medical cover.”

The report states: “The pressures are being most acutely experienced by West Kilbride Medical Practice, which as a four Doctor Practice currently has two Partner vacancies, one of which has been unfilled for over a year.

“With one of the remaining two Partners due to resign from Practice in August 2017, the partnership has given notice to resign its contract with NHS Ayrshire and Arran and the Practice will come under the direct management of the Primary Care Management Team.”

The report adds: “General Medical Services are becoming increasingly fragile and there is a need to act now to ensure high quality care is sustained into the future.”

The Partnership is set to agree a new approach to GP services, using a successful ‘multi-disciplinary’ which has been adopted in Kilwinning.