GPs are being forced to care for 2,200 patients each because of NHS staff shortages.
An extra 3.1million patients have been registered since June 2017 yet the number of fully qualified family doctors has fallen by 1,343 over the same period.
It means each GP has 10 per cent more names on their lists than five years ago.
And a postcode lottery is leaving some areas desperately short of cover, with just one doctor to look after 3,000 patients.
The shocking figures come after NHS Digital revealed that GPs are rushing through a fifth of appointments in five minutes or less.
New figures have revealed that a single GP is responsible for the care of 2,200 people, as patient numbers have risen but the number of family doctors has fallen (stock image)
Daisy Cooper MP (pictured), Lib Dem health spokesman, believes the health system is at a breaking point and that a plan is needed to recruit more doctors
The revelations will pile pressure on ministers to honour their promise of hiring an extra 6,000 family doctors by 2024.
‘The national shortage of GPs means it is a struggle securing an appointment,’ said Dennis Reed of Silver Voices, which campaigns for elderly people. ‘Some people give up trying, which leaves them at risk of deteriorating, while others will end up at the door of busy A&Es. More needs to be done to get doctors into general practice and to stop experienced ones from retiring early.
‘But we need to increase GP numbers equitably, so we can end this postcode lottery of care.’
There were 58.4million patients registered with a GP in England in June 2017, rising 5.4 per cent to 61.57million by March this year.
Meanwhile, the number of full-time and fully qualified GPs fell 4.6 per cent from 29,112 to 27,769 over the same period. It means the number of patients per GP rose by 10.46 per cent, from 2,007 to 2,217.
Blackburn with Darwen was worst off, with 3,004 patients per qualified GP in March, according to analysis of NHS data by the Liberal Democrats.
By contrast, Wirral had just 1,762 patients per GP – the lowest ratio.
