England lost around 400 full-time GPs in the last three months of last year, according to new figures.

GP leaders said the figures showed that promises to recruit more doctors to the role were faltering.

The NHS Digital figures are described as “experimental” and could reflect seasonal changes over the autumn.

NHS Digital reported an overall decline of 96 in full-time equivalent GP numbers between September 2015 and 2016. By December 2016, numbers had fallen by another 445 to 34,050, it found.

In contrast, practices were able to increase numbers of other staff during 2016. The number of practice staff increased by 3.4% during the year – while the number of full-time equivalent practice nurses increased by 2.8%, reaching 15,800.

Royal College of GP president Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard called for “urgent” initiatives to improve GP recruitment.

She said: “We must be careful when comparing these with previous figures as there is no direct comparison group available – but at face value a drop of over 400 full-time equivalent GPs based on figures to December is dreadful when we so desperately need thousands more in order to cope with ever-growing patient demand.”

Dr Krishna Kasaraneni, GP training lead at the British Medical Association, said: “Despite the constant promises from ministers that the GP workforce would be increased by 5,000, the number of full time GPs has fallen once again while the overall number has stagnated.

“While there have been encouraging increases in other health care professionals in general practice, what we really need are GPs who can deliver more appointments and other front line services to meet rising patient demand.”