THE parts of England with the fewest number of GPs have been revealed.
GPs in some parts of the country are each responsible for more than 2,500 patients, while in other regions GPs care on average for 1,250 patients each.
The figures highlight areas where it might be harder to access a family doctor.
New analysis from the Nuffield Trust think tank show the GPs serving the highest number of patients are in Portsmouth, Brighton and Thurrock.
In Portsmouth there are 39.5 GPs caring for every 100,000 people in the region.
People in Thurrock have 40.3 family doctors for every 100,000 people in the area and in Hull there are 41.9 per 100,000.
Brighton and Hove has 44 GPs for every 100,000 people, according to the analysis shared with the BBC.
By contrast, people in the Wirral have 80.7 GPs caring for every 100,000 people and in Liverpool there are 78.2.
Billy Palmer, senior fellow at the Nuffield Trust, said: “These disparities mean people in some areas are less able to access their family doctor than people elsewhere.
“In an NHS founded on the principle of equal treatment, such stark differences represent a serious failing.”
Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said “The size of the fully qualified GP workforce is falling whilst the number of patients continues to grow – as a result, the ratio of patients to GPs has increased significantly over recent years.
“Whilst this is happening across the country, some regions are being affected worse than others as they face greater difficulties recruiting new GPs and other staff.
“GPs want to be able to consistently give their patients the care they deserve, no matter where they live in the country, but the intense workload and workforce pressures facing general practice are unsustainable.
