Doctors in Marlow have defended themselves after a petition was launched asking the practice to urgently change the way the town’s only surgery handles appointments.

The petition against Marlow Medical Group on Victoria Road has attracted more than 250 signatures.

Marlow has a population of nearly 28,000 served by the one surgery, which currently has 18 GPs.

The surgery offers a ‘rapid access clinic’ for emergency appointments, where patients give a brief outline of their symptoms to a receptionist before getting a slot.

But many residents are concerned they cannot get an appointment when they need one.

Anna Lovett lives in Marlow and started the petition. She said: “I was on Facebook and saw everybody slagging off the surgery. I wasn’t sure how many people it affected, which was the whole point of the petition.

“People can’t get an appointment when they are ill. I’m not entirely sure what needs to be done.

"Lots of people are unhappy. Everyone has always complained and has done for years.”

The surgery in Marlow has seen a 27 per cent rise in appointments in the last four years as the town's population has been growing.

Doctors say they are willing to listen to feedback from patients but say budget pressures are putting a squeeze on services.

In a statement to the MFP, the surgery’s GPs said:“We need your help and understanding. Nationally, NHS general practice has entered a very difficult time and we are all experiencing a huge increase in demand for our services whilst having to provide these services from a shrinking budget.

“General practice provides 90 per cent of patient contacts and now receives just eight per cent of the overall NHS budget despite the increased workload from an ageing population with ever increasing complex needs.

“We serve a practice population of 27,539 and currently have 18 GPs with three new GPs starting in the next one or two months.”

Doctors said the surgery will trial several changes, and have listed ways in which patients can help the surgery to improve.

NHS England has also responded to the petition, saying patients' feedback is important.

Spokesman Awan Aysha said: “Marlow Medical Group is working closely with its Patient Participation Group (PPG) to improve the service and particularly the patient booking system. It has introduced a number of new ways of working to do this.

“We urge any patient or local community member with concerns about the booking system to speak directly with the practice and help support the work of the practice and the PPG.”

Wycombe District councillor Suzanne Brown said: “Some people find it difficult to get an appointment.

"I attend the Patient Reference Group meetings and we have found that something like 50 to 60 per cent of patients go to the doctors when nothing is wrong with them.

"They go to have a chat. These people don’t need doctors."

“The problem is differentiating between who does and doesn’t need a doctor." We are trying to form street associations so that if there is a problem people can talk to their neighbours instead of doctors.”