DOCTORS could be brought in from the Continent to help solve Bolton's shortage of GPs.

The number of doctors in the town is steadily falling and, with 42 per cent of local GPs aged over 50-years-old and facing retirement, the problem is not going to go away.

Something needs to be done to address the shortfall, and if bringing in European doctors provides a solution -- at least in the short term -- then let us get on with it.

At present it is Bolton's patients who are suffering, with the area having the seventh lowest proportion of GPs in the country.

Bringing in European doctors will help, but the health authority also needs to look at a way to attract young GPs into the town, so that the outlook will be healthy in the long term.