GPs in Wellington are said to be working up to 14 hours a day, with some practice staff quitting amidst 'very high demand.'

The Wellington Medical Centre Patient Participation Group, a collection of volunteers who meet to discuss local medical services, highlighted the pressures facing doctors in their latest monthly report.

It reveals that a GP resigned from the Wellington practice in March but decided to continue working from April as a salaried GP working one sessions a week.

It follows three other members of staff at the practice resigning, partly because of the pressure and abuse from patients.

The volunteer group also discussed difficulties facing pharmacies in the town.

One group member found that on a recent occasion all three pharmacies in the town were closed because of staff shortages.

The report of the group's March meeting found that: "Current demand is still very high."

It added: "Three new members of staff have resigned due to a variety of reasons including the pressures of the job and patient abuse."

Responding to concerns raised by the patient group, NHS Somerset, said: "NHS Somerset recognises the unprecedented level of demand on primary care at this time, alongside the national clinical workforce shortage which is unavoidably experienced at a local level. 

"We are working closely with all key stakeholders to ensure that there is adequate provision of healthcare services for the Wellington community and continue to explore opportunities to improve and develop primary care services within that area of the county.

"The experiences of patients are incredibly important to NHS Somerset, and we take patient concerns seriously. The views of patients are carefully considered when supporting existing services and indeed in the planning of future primary care resources.

“We are working with general practice and community pharmacy to support access for patients and extending the role of community pharmacy for the benefit of patients.”