BOLTON'S GP vacancy rates have fallen -- but the town is still short of three doctors, health chiefs have revealed.
Last year Bolton was short of 13 doctors but the town's Primary Care Trust says the recruitment of 10 family doctors has now filled vacancies resulting from retirements.
The average town in England has just over 53 GPs per 100,000 population and government targets say towns must have at least 57 GPs for the same size township by 2004.
Bolton has just 50.5 general practitioners, with many elderly doctors set to retire.
Health leaders say that they are closely monitoring the retirement age of its GPs as part of "a wider workforce plan".
Tim Bennett, the PCT's director of resource allocation, said: "We are pleased to see the improvements achieved in recent months. Continuing this improvement is a priority for the PCT, in order to relieve pressure on GPs, and improve access for patients."
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