Family doctors say they face chronic recruitment and morale problems which are pushing the profession towards crisis point.

Leading doctors have warned of staff shortages, overworked GPs and surgeries only just managing to see patients.

Dr Xavier Nalletamby, chairman of Brighton and Hove Primary Care Group, said the towns needed an extra 20 GPs "just to stand still".

He said problems getting patients appointments and then referring them to consultants were among the worst he had seen in 13 years at his Brighton practice.

His concerns have been echoed by Dr Rob Ferns, chairman of Ouse Valley PCG. The two say GP recruitment needs urgent attention.

Dr Nalletamby said: "Patients are finding their doctors tired and with very little time to see them.

"A real problem has been the increase in the amount of work we have to do. And it's actually proving very hard now to recruit high quality GPs."

He said four years ago GP job adverts for Brighton and Hove attracted ten to 15 quality applicants, compared with one or two now.

He said recruitment and the demands of the NHS Plan, which promises 2,000 new GPs during the next ten years, might only be addressed by looking overseas.

Dr Ferns said GP morale had taken a battering in recent years with the Government bringing in more bureaucratic demands.

He said long hours put pressure on home life and older family doctors were preparing to retire.

Dr Ferns said: "We are working a lot harder than our colleagues were 25 years ago and perhaps not getting the same recognition for that. It's not a status thing. People need to feel what they do is worthwhile."

A spokeswoman for East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority said: "The NHS Plan will introduce new flexibilities in GP contracts and new ways of working which should result in decreasing pressures in primary care."