Six out of ten GPs are considering early retirement as general practice struggles to cope with rising workload according to a new British Medical Association tracker of GP opinion.
The poll also finds that despite the pressures they are under, GPs are changing the way they work to provide more emergency appointments.
Almost all GPs reported that their workload was too heavy some of the time, with more than half saying their workload was unmanageable or unsustainable at all times.
Nine out of ten GPs said that they regularly worked beyond their regular hours.
Meanwhile, over half of all GPs reported their morale as being "low" or "very low".
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, Chair of the BMA's GP committee, said:"This survey demonstrates that GPs are working harder than ever before to meet the demands of their patients, as well as working innovatively to provide the service their local community want, including providing more emergency care appointments and evening consultations.
"However, it is clear general practice is facing a workload disaster that is threatening its long term future. We are seeing morale dip to a level that I cannot remember in my twenty five years as a GP."
Nagpaul added:"The root cause of this crisis is that GP practices are facing an unprecedented combination of rising patient demand, especially from an ageing population, and declining resources. The government is also asking GP practices to provide more services, including many involving the transfer of hospital care into the community, without the resources required to successfully deliver them."
