WITH government plans to open GP surgeries seven days a week, it is no surprise that there are fewer people wanting to be general doctors and therefore more and more practices closing down.

Yes, St Luke’s in Stroud is a slightly different case due to the need for specialist anthroposophical doctors, but it is still another surgery forced to close due to a lack of GPs.

Medical experts say the government plans to create seven-day surgeries will not work unless a huge amount of extra money is set aside for recruitment.

Most GP surgery doctors and staff will tell you that extra funding is needed just to sustain the existing five-day service.