Skyrocketing costs, increasing demands and abusive patients is causing burnout, work-related illness and turnover at a Gloucestershire GP surgery, according to practice bosses.

Price’s Mill Surgery in Nailsworth has written to patients detailing the “huge” pressures NHS doctors are facing.

They say they are facing increasing demands from the Government, the need from patients has never been higher and costs are “skyrocketing”.

Lengthy waiting lists for hospitals and specialist services mean patients need ongoing care from the New Market Road practice while waiting for treatment.

“This directly impacts our ability to provide timely care and meet the needs of all our patients,” the message from the partners of Price’s Mill surgery.

“The increasing financial pressures on general practice are huge. Over the past few years, this has become significant.

“Sub-inflation annual government funding increases of 2.1 per cent do not meet the skyrocketing rise in running costs.

“The direct result of increasing demands with insufficient funding is that we are no longer able to offer the same level of service you have been used to receiving. We can only afford to deliver the service we are funded for.

“This shortfall in funding means we cannot afford to increase our staffing levels to match the increased demand.

“It is a sad picture repeated across the country.

The current situation has affected our ability to recruit into the roles left by retiring GP partners.

“The remaining partners are responsible for a larger number of patients, impacting on the availability of appointments with them.

“The sad consequence of this scenario is we have been experiencing significant rates of work-related ill health, burnout and staff turnover.

“We understand our patients want to be seen as quickly as possible when they are unwell, and it can cause worry and frustration having to wait.

“Unfortunately, staff are increasingly experiencing abusive episodes from a small minority of our patients.

“These incidents have a significant impact on morale within the team and make recruiting even more difficult.

“We thank the majority of our patients for their patience and understanding, and recognition that the whole team is working hard to do their best for patients with the resources available.”

The practice partners go on to say they continue to do what they can to provide a safe and effective service but may need to direct patients to NHS11 when they reach their limit of safe levels of working.

They are changing the way they work with new clinicians and staff roles that help them to increase capacity, but they say it remains a very challenging time, despite these innovations.

Price’s Mill Surgery’s partners say they are investing in a new way of working and an online triage system with the aim of safeguarding its sustainability with the money the government has provided.

Councillors heard in March how GP surgeries may have to cut the amount of appointments they offer patients due to rising staffing costs.

As of last month there were more than 1,900 patients for every GP in Gloucestershire as doctors complained of a shortfall in funding.