Nearly a third of doctors are planning to leave general practice within the next five years, partly because of the stress of the job, according to a major new survey.

The findings show the need to reduce doctor workload to end the continuing loss of GPs, according to the Royal College of GPs.

It has found that England still has 460 fewer GPs than in 2015 despite recent figures suggesting some small increases.

Its analysis found some areas, notably Liverpool, achieving significant improvements in doctor numbers.

The college called for a significant increase in primary care funding – by 1.5% of the NHS budget.

According to the survey of more than 1,000 doctors, 5% say their practice is likely to close in the next 12 months. 37% said they have been holding vacancies for GPs in their practice for more than three months. 31% of GPs said they planned to leave the profession within five years because of retirement or stress.

The analysis found that Liverpool had achieved an increase of 87 GPs in the last three years. Two west country areas have also proved popular – north, east and west Devon with an increase of 67 and Cornwall with an increase of 54.

Lambeth and Gloucestershire also achieved increases. In contrast Horsham and Mid Sussex lost 52 doctors, Walsall lost 33 and Portsmouth 29. College chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said the findings were “gravely concerning.”

She said: “All GPs are overworked, many are stressed, and some are making themselves seriously ill working hours that are simply unsafe, for both themselves and their patients – it is making them want to leave the profession. It is forcing some GPs to hand back their keys and close their surgeries for good.

“This is having a serious impact on many of our patients, who are waiting longer and longer to secure a GP appointment. But it also means we don’t have the time we need with patients – particularly the growing number living with multiple, complex conditions – so the standard 10-minute appointment is simply unfit for purpose.”

The concerns were echoed by the chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee Dr Richard Vautrey.

He said: “While GPs strive to provide high quality care to all of their patients, statistics such as this speak volumes to the huge amount of pressure they are under; rising demand from a growing population with increasingly complex conditions means that workload is nearing insurmountable levels.

“Given the stress this causes and impact that it has on doctors’ wellbeing, it is unsurprising that many are questioning their own futures and the future of their practices.”

Meanwhile speaking to the conference of Scottish local medical committees, Dr Andrew Buist said: “Never before has the need to address GP wellbeing been more critical. For years, we have felt the growing demands from rising workload, due to increased need from an aging population, the shift of work from hospitals, and rising patient expectations; all landing on the GP’s shoulders to deliver; and still within the ten-minute appointment slot. Something has to give.

“The consequences of the physical and mental stress on GPs leads many to revert to less than full time working as a means to build in recovery time. But of course that is not an option for all, and for some GPs, their health suffers significantly.”

Dr Buist, chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP committee, said a new GP contract in Scotland would help to tackle the problems.