DOCTORS in East Lancashire have called for action to address a ‘postcode lottery’ which has seen GP numbers fall faster in deprived areas than wealthier ones.

Data shows GP numbers have dropped sharply from 55 per 100,000 population in 2015 to just 48 per 100,000 in 2018 in the most deprived areas of England.

While the least deprived areas of the country have seen a relatively modest drop in GP numbers from 57 per 100,000 population to 54 per 100,000 in the same time period.

The research by Ben Barr, a senior lecturer at Liverpool University was referenced by Blackburn with Darwen public health director Dominic Harrison at a governing body meeting of Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group on Wednesday.

And with areas of East Lancashire, including Blackburn being among the most deprived in the country, GPs have spoken out to call for more funding and resources to attract medics to the profession.

Blackburn GP Paul Fourie, who runs Witton Medical Centre in Blackburn, said: “In deprived areas such as Blackburn, there is far more pressure because of higher levels of patient ill health and a lack of investment.

“It’s more difficult to work in these areas as there is underinvestment and the facilities are not as good which does put doctors off from working here.”

David Wrigley, Lancashire’s representative on the trade union British Medical Association (BMA), said: “The workload is more intense in poorer areas and they are difficult areas to work in.

“There shouldn’t be a postcode lottery for GP access. More funding is needed.”

But Dr Ridwaan Ahmed, clinical director of quality and primary care at Blackburn with Darwen CCG, said it is investing in developing and nurturing a new generation of future GPs.

He added: “In Pennine Lancashire, the two CCGs and East Lancashire Hospitals Trust have partnered with The University of Central Lancashire to establish a university medical school annex in Burnley along with growing and successful research led by GP, Professor Umesh Chauhan. We have found that by creating more academic and research opportunities, again this makes the area more attractive for aspiring GPs as well as retaining GPs. The evidence from our trainee GPs in the area already is that when they come to Pennine Lancashire and work in local practices – they are more likely to stay in the area."