Two in five GPs could quit within five years in some parts of the country, a report shows, amid complaints that six figure earnings are not worth the risk of “burnout”.

Polling of family doctors, published in BMJ Open, found the vast majority intend to spend less time on patient care in future, with retirement, career breaks and part-time working being considered by seven in ten.

Family doctors said the findings from 2,000 GPs in the South West of England reflect a crisis in general practice as a result of growing workload pressures.

Last week new figures revealed record number of GPs practices are closing, following a rise in the number of doctors retiring early before a tax clampdown on pension pots.

The number of practices closing has risen five fold since 2013, with 92 such closures last year.

Researchers said the new study suggested the country was reaching a “perilous situation” in a crisis which was “deeper and more imminent” than previously anticipated.