Just a few years ago being a family doctor was one of the best jobs in Britain. Not any longer.

GPs who used to find their work rewarding are now leaving the profession in droves and few doctors are moving in to replace them.

The result is a severe shortage. Brighton and Hove alone could do with another 20 GPs and it is highly unlikely the towns will get them.

Why is there a problem? Most GPs are working ferociously long hours which is good neither for them nor their patients.

They are being weighed down by a huge burden of bureaucracy and they are having enormous problems in referring patients for appointments.

Patients are becoming much more demanding and some doctors find they are having to play the dual role of social worker.

The Government is planning to recruit more GPs. But it will have to offer them more money and better conditions if targets in the NHS Plan are to be achieved.

Plenty of emphasis has been placed by the Government on hospital improvements and reducing waiting lists.

But family doctors are the bedrock of the NHS and if they start to crumble, the whole health service is in danger.