GP crisis worsens as one in four people left waiting over a week for appointment

A staggering 6.2 million people waited over eight days for a GP appointment in February, Liberal Democrat research has revealed. This is up 9% from the previous month, when 5.7 million waited for eight days or more to see their GP.

The analysis of the latest NHS figures shows that one in four (24.4%) people waited over eight days in February before being able to see their family doctor. Of these, 550,000 people (2%) were left waiting a month or more for a GP appointment.

The figures also reveal a postcode lottery, with almost one in three people in some areas waiting eight days or more to see their GP. The five worst areas with the highest proportion of people waiting over eight days were Gloucestershire (31.5%), Dorset (31.2%), Sheffield (31.1%), East Riding of Yorkshire (31%) and Stafford (30.8%).

Meanwhile the number of same day appointments in February fell by over half a million compared to January. Fewer than one in two (45%) people were able to see their GP on the same day in February, down from 47% the previous month.

The Liberal Democrats said the figures revealed the impact that years of Conservative neglect and broken promises have had on GP services. The Conservatives are four years behind their manifesto pledge to recruit 6,000 more GPs by 2025.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on Health Secretary Sajid Javid to publish a strategy to tackle GP shortages and meet the government's own recruitment targets. The party said urgent action is needed to train more GPs and encourage experienced doctors to stay on in the profession, as many are considering early retirement or leaving altogether.

Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP, said:

"The Conservatives have broken their promise to recruit more GPs, leaving millions of people struggling to get an appointment when they need one. Desperate people are turning up at A&E instead, piling pressure on the NHS at a time it can least afford it.

"Local health services are suffering after years of neglect under this government which has driven them into the ground.

"The local elections in May are a chance to send Boris Johnson a message that people are fed up of broken promises and being taken for granted. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats will help elect local champions who listen to their communities and stand up for our health services.

"We are calling for a proper plan to recruit the GPs the country desperately needs and prevent so many doctors leaving or retiring early."

Full Liberal Democrat analysis of the latest figures for England, every region in England and for each Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are available here. Original source: NHS Digital: Appointments in General Practice