A Leominster family doctor says he has quit his job because of the constant struggle faced by local GPs in getting acutely ill patients admitted to hospital in Hereford.

Julian Stokes says the hospital beds crisis was a big factor in his decision to take early retirement.

The crisis was "making life much more difficult," says Dr Stokes, aged 53. He has quit his post at Leominster's Marches Surgery (headed by Dr Roger Thompson) after 21 years with the practice and 29 years in the profession.

Dr Stokes hopes the situation at Hereford County Hospital - a reflection of a national problem -could change. But for the time being he has "had enough," he says.

"We constantly face difficulties on acute admissions to hospital in Hereford - they are a low political priority because everything is centred on waiting lists," he said.

The result was "unethical" practice. Acutely ill elderly patients had to be admitted to casualty and often faced up to 24 hours waiting on a trolley until a bed was found for them.

"We have had people suffering from pressure sores after long hours on a trolley. That sort of thing in this day and age is unacceptable," said Dr Stokes.

GPs were under more pressure to keep vulnerable people at home. Patients were being put "at risk," he claimed.

"People are leaving the NHS because they are fed up - early retirement is very bad news for the NHS," he added.

Dr Stokes - who hopes to undertake some sea voyages as a ship's doctor if he passes his medical - is full of praise for the NHS at the local level in Leominster which is working "extremely well."

The purpose built health centre, community hospital, GP practices, district nurses, health visitors and midwives work together to provide a first rate service. "If the NHS could work countrywide as it works in Leominster we wouldn't have any problems," he said

"The problems begin for us when we need support from outside."

Dr Stokes, who is married with three children in their teens and twenties, has cut a familiar figure around the district at the wheel of a car he has owned since he was 21, his grey 1964 Wolseley 1500.

He said he would very much miss the day to day contact with his patients. Patients contributed to a retirement gift of young fruit trees, which will be purchased in the autumn and planted at the doctor's Yarpole home. He has plans to replant the site of a former orchard.

His medical colleagues staged two retirement gatherings and presented him with the gift of a hot air balloon flight.