GPs in the region could resign en masse unless the Government comes up with a rescue package in an effort to stave off what many claim is a crisis in the profession.

In January a special conference attended by representatives of local GP bodies – known as local medical councils – carried a motion proposing that GPs should be canvassed on their willingness to resign unless the Government came up with a credible rescue package for general practice within six months.

The Northern Echo has learnt that there is real anger among many GPs in the region over the pressures they are facing and growing support in some quarters for such a move – described as the “nuclear deterrent” – which is expected to be discussed again at another meeting of doctors' representatives next month.

A GP from County Durham, who spoke to The Northern Echo on the basis that his identity was kept anonymous, said general practice was “on its knees” and resignations were an option.

He said: “We have a desperate shortage of GPs meaning there are a lot of unfilled posts and it is especially bad in the North-East, along with serious under-funding.

“It’s no wonder it is a constant problem for people to get appointments. We are at breaking point and experienced doctors are leaving left, right and centre.”

A recent survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) which compiled responses from about a third of all GP practices in the country found that in the North-East 42 per cent of doctors were contemplating retirement. This was the highest level in the country.

Meanwhile, almost one in ten practices in the North-East described their financial viability as “unsustainable”.

The Echo approached NHS England and asked for figures on GP vacancies in the region, only to be told they weren’t available.

However, figures recently revealed that across the country in the past three years 171 surgeries had closed, the majority due to mergers.

A ten point action plan has now been drawn up by officials as part of a package of measures to attract and retain more GPs with £10m being used to kick start various national initiatives.

Dr John Canning, a Middlesbrough GP and BMA GP representative for the North-East, said half of GP practices in the region were looking at losing staff.

He said: “This comes at a time when there is a shortfall in new doctors entering general practice and as GP services struggle to replace existing staff who leave, it will inevitably make it more difficult to maintain current services to patients.

“GP practices are facing this dire situation because they are being overwhelmed by rising patient demand, cuts to funding, staff shortages and more unfunded work being moved from hospitals into the community.

“Given these pressures it is unsurprising that GPs are considering leaving the NHS, while new medical graduates are turning their backs on a career as a GP – a situation undoubtedly worsened by the Government’s appalling handling of the junior doctor contract.”

Dr Canning added: “We need the Government to act urgently to deliver a comprehensive rescue package that safeguards GP services for patients.”

Last month Chancellor George Osborne was accused of ignoring the “massive black hole” in health and social care funding when he unveiled his annual budget.

Meanwhile, recent analysis for Pulse, a journal for GPs, said the percentage of NHS funding given to primary care would actually decrease this year, despite a Government pledge to increase funding by an average of 4.5 per cent every year until 2021.

A spokesman for the BMA – which is holding its own conference next month to discuss the “crisis” in the NHS – would not confirm whether the idea of mass GP resignations was on its agenda, but said it was “exploring all options”.

A Department of Health spokesman said Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was due to announce further support for GPs.

He said: “We are committed to the NHS and its values, which is why we're investing £10bn to fund its own plan for the future, including £3.8bn upfront by next year.

“It has always been the case that some GP practices open, close, or merge over time. What's important is that patients continue to get the services they need.

“That’s why we have agreed changes to the GP contract that include an extra £220m investment in general practice and we will make available 5,000 more doctors in general practice by 2020.”