More than 40,000 patients in Wales have had to find new practices in the last five years before of closures, it was reported today.

According to a BBC investigation, 17 main surgeries and 28 branch surgeries have closed in the country since 2013.

Closures peaked last year when six main surgeries and seven branch surgeries closed – affecting 15,000 people, according to the findings.

The BBC obtained the information through Freedom of Information requests. The information does not include one health board, the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

British Medical Association Welsh GP committee chair Dr Charlotte Jones told the BBC that recruitment and retention were a major problem. This was because of “sheer volume” of workloads, under-resourcing and “overwhelming bureaucracy.”

She said the BMA was seeking to work with the Welsh government and health boards to tackle the problems.