Out-of-hours GP services have been suspended at five sites by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde due to a shortage of doctors.

The health board said fewer doctors were available as a result of “significant challenges”, including issues cause by national changes to pensions.

Eleven medical bodies wrote to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak this week calling for a long-term solution to the pensions crisis, which threatens to penalise senior clinicians for going to work.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said local operational issues have also led to out-of-hours at centres being suspended at short-notice, resulting in an “inconsistent and unsustainable” service.

Greenock health centre, Easterhouse health centre, Inverclyde Royal, Gartnavel Royal and Queen Elizabeth University hospitals have now temporarily suspended out-of-hours GP provision.

Overnight services will be delivered from four core centres at Stobhill, Victoria, Royal Alexandra and Vale of Leven hospitals during the week. All except the Vale of Leven will also be open during the evening and at weekends.

The health board said the GP home visiting service will continue to operate as normal and urgent cases referred to an out-of-hours centre by NHS24 can still use patient transport service if unable to get there independently.

Kerri Neylon, primary care lead GP at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “A number of contributory factors mean the current out-of-hours service has become unsustainable.

“Temporary consolidation of services is the only option which will enable us to continue providing this crucial service in the immediate future.

“This formalises the ad-hoc arrangement which has increasingly become the norm in recent months and provides patients and staff with certainly and reliability.”

The health board said a major recruitment campaign for GPs, advanced nurse practitioners and allied healthcare practitioners was ongoing to help provide a long-term solution to the issue.

Other measures include more use of digital technology such as videocalls, a review of GP pay and increasing involvement of paramedics in out-of-hours care.

Ms Neylon added: “We are absolutely committed to delivering a long-term sustainable, safe and reliable out-of-hours service to patients across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“The long-term delivery model, which uses new technology, alongside smarter recruitment is demonstrably the best way to meet demand.

“We are working to implement those changes as quickly as possible and we are acutely aware of the need to do so.”