Labour has pledged to train thousands more GPs as it claimed nearly three million patients have seen their practice close down or merge in the past five years.Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said GP practices are "shutting up shop across the country", leaving people to "travel miles to be seen and GPs overburdened".According to figures obtained by the party through freedom of information (FOI) responses from NHS bodies in England, 2.8 million patients have experienced their practice closin

Labour has pledged to train thousands more GPs as it claimed nearly three million patients have seen their practice close down or merge in the past five years.Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said GP practices are "shutting up shop across the country", leaving people to "travel miles to be seen and GPs overburdened".According to figures obtained by the party through freedom of information (FOI) responses from NHS bodies in England, 2.8 million patients have experienced their practice closing down or merging in the past five years, forcing patients to find a new GP.Under Labour's plans, 15,000 doctors a year would be trained, and medical school places would be doubled.The proposals would be funded by abolishing the non-dom tax status, which allows people living and working in Britain but with their permanent home abroad to pay their taxes overseas.