A survey of North East GPs revealed that 80% said the pressure of dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak has left them with mental health problems.
The research was carried out by the North East & Cumbria Regional LMC which also revealed that 61% of GP practices had seen morale deteriorate while 60% of doctors said the chance of them leaving the profession, retiring early or emigrating had increased compared to before the pandemic.
In all, about 500 GPs from around 130 practices across the region from Cumbria to Tyneside and into Teesside responded to the survey carried out between September to this month.
The LMC's Honorary Secretary Dr Bill Westwood who helped compile the report with its Chairman, Dr Roger N Ford, said: "It is very worrying. In their responses to questions doctors used words like "anxious", "tearful" and being "burned out".
He said for years GP practices had managed to adapt to changing circumstances but now they have been stretched to breaking point.
In short, the report concluded: "General Practice is the cornerstone of the NHS but is in crisis."
The report outlined what it described as overwhelming evidence of increasing workload, increasing retirement and lack of recruitment.
"There is an obvious risk of a deterioration in service quality for patients," it said. "General Practice deals with 90% of all health care in the UK. If it fails, the whole NHS will fail.
"The results are worrying with practices experiencing significantly increased workload whilst simultaneously struggling with an average 20% reduction in capacity arising from the need to meet social distancing requirements and staff self-isolation."
The LMC said that in response to these pressures the practices had worked tirelessly to maintain services to patients as they sought also to protect severely stretched hospital colleagues and services.
It has resulted in leave and bank holidays being cancelled. Numerous additional sessions and shifts have been worked.
"There has been comments about working 14 and 15 hour days. A lot of GPs were exhausted, on their knees," said Dr Westwood.
The report said: "This response has taken a severe toll on practices. 61% of practices report deteriorating morale and 80% of GPs describe negative effects on their mental health.
"Taken together, the experience of the last six months has led to 60% of respondents describing their chances of leaving the profession, retiring early or emigrating as increased compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic.
"This is at a time when there was already a well-recognised workforce crisis affecting primary care nationally pre-dating the pandemic. North East England is amongst the most severely affected regions. 21% of respondents feel the situation is so bad that their practice is at significant risk of closure or merger."
Dr Westwood said NHS England and the integrated care systems which looks into how health and care services are planned, paid for and delivered has been made aware of the survey.
"More resources are needed," said Dr Westwood. "That's not just money. There are a lot of vacancies and extra staff is needed to take on the work load."
A GP for 32 years before he retired, he added: "I've often heard about things being bad but this is the worst I've seen it."
