A GLASGOW doctor has told of "extremely difficult"working conditions after the city was left with one out-of-hours service on the busiest night of the week.

Ruth Gibson was one of four GPs staffing emergency care at the New Victoria hospital on Saturday night along with two nurses and two nursing support workers.

She told how there was ‘virtually only standing room’ for patients and described having one toilet break in seven hours on her second double shift of the weekend.

She said the majority of staff had worked past their shift or had come in early.

In an impassioned online post she thanked the ‘majority’ of patients who “didn’t shout or become aggressive’ writing: “Thank you to all the patients and staff who understood we were doing our very very best and simply COULD NOT do any more.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the service was "particularly busy" last weekend with 721 patients seen on Saturday alone

The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents doctors, described the situation as “concerning” and blamed the shortage of GPs willing to work evenings and weekend on “excessive workloads” and “punitive pension tax bills” which it said were resulting in doctors losing money from coming to work.

Senior doctors have been hit with new tax bills on their pension pots with some facing bills in the hundreds of thousands which has led to some cutting their hours.

Read more: Campaigner blasts "horrendous" out of hours conditions at Paisley hospital

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is said to be working to recruit 70 GPs to staff the out-of-hours service to address major shortages that has led to centres shutting.

The doctor writes: “We had an extremely difficult night in ooh at the Victoria last night.

“The only site covering the whole of Glasgow. 4 doctors, 2 nurses, an ANP and HCSW.

“We had virtually no standing room at one point.

“Thank you to everyone last night who helped. Police, paramedics, secondary care staff, receptionists, support staff, drivers - everyone.

“Thank you to the majority of patients who understood we were all working non stop. Over 7 hours with one toilet break only.

“Thank you to patients and families who understood that emergencies needed to be seen before you.

“Thank you to patients with non urgent problems who decided they could wait and access care during the week.”

She urged patients to consider what service best meets their needs writing: “If you feel you have an emergency the Victoria ooh is a GP centre. It’s not an AE. “Please consider if you should attend AE and likewise if you are considering AE please think could this be dealt with by the GP OOH, pharmacy, optician, or your own GP in daytime hours.

“Please bring something to drink, snacks, milk for your babies if needed and nappy supplies.

“We don’t have these and with long waits it’s horrible not being able to help with this.”

Read more: Glasgow left without out-of-hours care after GPs refuse to work

Dr Andrew Buist, chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee said: “It’s very concerning to hear that only one site was covering the whole of Glasgow for a weekend out-of-hours GP service.

“The Scottish GP contract that came into force last year is designed specifically to address inappropriate excessive workloads and improve recruitment and retention of GPs.

“We know it’s not going to happen overnight, which is why phase one is a three year period – but I do believe the changes will lead to more people choosing to be a GP.”

A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: "The Out of Hours Service was particularly busy last weekend – 721 people were seen on Saturday alone and there were 167 home visits too. An additional doctor was moved to the Victoria in response to the high numbers on the site.

"Our doctor was right to encourage patients to use their urgent Out of Hours Services appropriately.

"By phoning NHS 24 first, patients can ensure that they are accessing the most appropriate service for their health need."