The organisation which represents UK GPs says that the shortfall in their numbers will worsen in coming years.

The British Medical Association (BMA) says the large numbers of young women among the GP workforce mean many can be expected to leave to start families soon.

A survey of GP opinion suggests four out of 10 of the youngest GPs want to reduce their hours of work in the next five years.

The majority of those in their 20s intend to retire early, finds the survey.

The government says it can bring thousands more doctors - many of them GPs - into the NHS over the next decade.

It has pledged to make sure patients can get swift appointments to see their family doctor.

Female numbers

More than three-quarters of the UK's younger GPs are women, even though only one in five of older GPs is female.

The heavy workload faced by GPs make it difficult to combine full-time work with childcare, say many women doctors.

Nine out of 10 younger GPs say childcare arrangements in the NHS need to be improved.

Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA's GP Committee, said: "We are already critically short of family doctors.

"For patients, the result is consultations that are too short and sometimes longer waiting times than are desirable.

'Change needed'

"Our survey suggests that matters are likely to get worse.

"The newest recruits to general practice are not intending to follow the same full-time career path as their older colleagues.

"If we want to keep young doctors in the profession, and recruit more family doctors, radical changes to working conditions have to be made now."