Haxby Group says that despite its 'greatest efforts,' it can no longer provide a 'safe service' at its surgery in Stockton on the Forest, near York, due to reception staff shortages.

It said the surgery in The Village temporarily closed from November 10 and it aimed to return to full opening hours as soon as possible.

It said: "As you will be aware, GP practices across the country are under extreme pressure. Like many, we are struggling to recruit support staff, especially to work on the reception desks.

"We must emphasise that this is a temporary measure, and we aim to return to full opening hours as soon as we have recruited and trained new staff members."

local Lib Dem councillor Tony Fisher claimed today that the closure was 'extremely unsatisfactory.'

He said:“This means that patients from Stockton will have to travel to either Haxby or Huntington.” 

He said any permanent closure would be unacceptable, as Stockton had too few facilities as it was.

Lib Dem campaigner Paul Healey added: “There is no direct bus to either of these surgeries. If you don’t have access to a car, this means a long bus journey or an expensive taxi fare.”

Haxby Group, which is rated 'outstanding' by the CQC watchdog, operates surgeries across York and Hull, including Haxby & Wigginton, Huntington, Gale Farm, New Earswick and the Old Forge in Poppleton.

Prof Mike Holmes, GP Partner and Chief Executive Medical Officer of Haxby Group, said the York health, care and voluntary sector were working collaboratively to care for all patients together.

"When GP surgeries are bursting with urgent cases, our collaborative working across the city is second to none and we have been nationally recognised for this," he said.

"I am so proud that we are able to support each other like this, sensibly and innovatively, building on solid relationships.

"Despite operating under tremendous, unprecedented pressures, we are surrounded by committed staff who go above and beyond the call of duty every single day.

"York’s health and care community has a vision for the future and a desire to continue to do our utmost to make the health, care and voluntary system work and deliver care for patients.

"We are all optimistic about the future and determined that we will never stop trying to deliver the highest quality healthcare – from what I see locally, with the right support, we are in a good position to translate optimism into reality."