They say hundreds of GPs are considering early retirement because they are being forced to take on extra patients.

The job is far more stressful than it used to be because we have to deliver on numerous targets

Dr Ian Winterton, Newcastle GP

Many surgeries are struggling to cope with staff shortages and the pressure of meeting Government targets.

Many are being given "compulsory allocations", under guidelines to ensure everyone has access to a doctor.

According to the medical newspaper Pulse, hundreds of family doctors are considering retiring early because of the pressure of work.

In a bid to attract doctors back to the NHS, the government is offering returning doctors a "golden hello" of �10,000.

Long waits

In some areas, the number of compulsory allocations has trebled in the past 12 months.

A separate survey, carried out by a UK newspaper, found that some patients faced delays of up to 17 days for a routine appointment.

We cannot resolve the issue of patients waiting longer than we would wish before we solve the crisis in recruitment

Dr Simon Fradd, BMA

Surgeries are expected to offer an appointment with a GP within 48 hours by 2004 under a government target.

The British Medical Association (BMA) says there is a crisis in general practice with a critical shortage of GPs.

Family doctors are concerned that patients sometimes have to wait too long for an appointment, said a spokesperson.

In other places patients have trouble finding a practice that can take them on.

Dr Simon Fradd, joint deputy chairman of the BMA's GP's committee, said: "We cannot resolve the issue of patients waiting longer than we would wish before we solve the crisis in recruitment and retention of doctors and nurses in primary care."

Golden handshake

Dr Ian Winterton, a Newcastle GP and chairman of the regional general practices committee said it was sad to see good GPs retiring early.

"The job is far more stressful than it used to be because we have to deliver on numerous targets," he told BBC News Online.

"If we had enough staff and enough support we could deliver it," he added.

Meanwhile, the government has announced that it will offer up to �10,000 in "welcome back" money to family doctors returning to NHS general practice after a break.

Health minister John Hutton said: "We are two years into an unprecedented programme of investment and reform that will see faster access to higher quality services for patients in both primary and secondary care."

Shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox said the scheme "might make a small difference at the margins."

But he added: "What is really needed is for the government fundamentally to reconsider their approach to general practice in particular, and the NHS more generally."

The news was welcomed by the BMA.

Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the BMA's GPs' committee, said: "We have been pressing for this to be introduced as one of the many measures that are required to help alleviate the critical shortage of GPs.

" We know there is a substantial number of doctors qualified to work in general practice but not currently doing so."