A SHORTAGE of family doctors and hard-to-achieve health targets are forcing GPs to consider taking patients off their lists, a leading Bolton doctor claims.

GP Robert Mitchell says Bolton doctors are being put in a position where they are under considerable financial pressure to meet strict Government targets.

The government want GPs to achieve 90 per cent immunisation, and high rates of smear testing for cervical cancer detection, in order to gain financial rewards which can be up to £1,800.

Dr Mitchell, the new chairman of the local medical committee, said: "I admit that I have considered removing a patient from my list. It was when I failed to meet the MMR immunisation target.

"I did give it some serious thought. I would have stood to lose £1,800 in funding because I would not have met the 90 per cent target. Luckily, I remembered a patient who had emigrated and I was able to declare this to the Government, so I was still within my target."

But Dr Mitchell says many family doctors in Bolton are daily facing tough decisions which are jeopardising the doctor/patient relationship.

The British Medical Association and the Government also claim practices are taking more than a year to fill vacancies for replacement staff.

Dr Mitchell agrees. He said: "It took me six months just to get a part-time assistant. I know of other practices in the town that have also taken a long time to fill vacancies."

In Bolton six GPs have retired in the last few months. And many of the high number of doctors of Asian descent are reaching retirement age, which is also causing concern.

A Government survey revealed that 57 per cent of GPs believe recruitment was more difficult than it had been over the last five years.

Dr Mitchell said: "Since getting my assistant, I have more time to spend with my patients. I can afford to go to important meetings and focus on education.

"But I can't see anything at the moment which will make things better for family doctors in Bolton. The workload is increasing and patient demand is getting higher.

"There are many changes planned in the way doctors are being asked to specialise. But then, who will look after their patients when they are training and specialising?"

Dr Mitchell, who works at a practice in Rupert Street, Great Lever, said: "It all comes down to better funding."

"There have been many changes in the past 15 years and being a doctor is totally different now. There is more paper chasing and more pressure to reach targets. Patient contact is being lost."