ARE we heading for an NHS recruitment crisis? Or have we arrived there already?

As we report today on page 10, a new survey by an organisation representing 2,500 GPs across the south – the Wessex Local Medical Committee – has revealed that many surgeries cannot attract enough doctors and nurses to fill their vacancies.

Furthermore, about one in five family doctors plans to retire or leave the profession in the next two years, making what is already a grave situation worse.

Finally, we are not training enough new GPs to replace those who are going in this area.

It all adds up to a worrying picture.

As Wessex Local Medical Committee chief executive Nigel Watson says, urgent action is clearly needed.

But what can be done? GPs have been criticised for taking home larger salaries while opting out of out-of-hours care. Some have suggested that they are partly the authors of their own downfall.

Whatever the rights and wrongs, a solution is needed now.

We cannot afford to have such a crucial institution as the NHS on the “critical” list.