NHS crisis: 5.4 million patients wait more than 2 weeks to see their GP

EMBARGO: Immediate release

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new right for patients to see a GP within 7 days, as new figures reveal that 5.4 million people waited more than two weeks for an appointment last month.

The statistics, published today by NHS Digital, show that 9.6 million GP appointments involved a wait of more than seven days, with 5.4 million waiting longer than the Government’s own target of two weeks and 1.4 million waiting more than 28 days.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for patients to have a new right to see a GP within seven days, or within 24 hours if they have an urgent need. To deliver on that right, the party has set out a five-point plan to recruit 8,000 GPs and free up more of their time.

Responding to the figures, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

“Far too many people are struggling to get a GP appointment when they need one, leaving them waiting anxiously for the care they deserve.

“At the same time, GPs are under more and more pressure, providing repeat and follow-up appointments for patients whose conditions are getting worse whilst they wait months or years for hospital treatment. 

“The blame for this crisis is clear, and it isn’t the country’s overstretched GPs. It’s the Conservative government that has driven our local health services into the ground and broken their promise to recruit more doctors. They have actually cut the number of qualified GPs instead.

“Liberal Democrats have set out a clear plan to recruit 8,000 more GPs over four years which would enable us to give everyone the right to see their doctor within seven days, or within 24 hours if they urgently need to.

“By giving doctors the time and the tools they need to do their jobs, we can make sure everyone gets the care they need, when they need it.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Appointments in General Practice statistics for November 2022, published today by NHS Digital, are available here.

The Liberal Democrats’ five-point plan to recruit 8,000 GPs and free up more of their time:

1. Increase training places for GPs and medical school places across the country. 

2. Fix the broken NHS pension rules to help experienced GPs stay in the profession.

3. Give more prescribing rights and public health advisory services to qualified pharmacists, nurse practitioners and appropriately trained paramedics.

4. Introduce a 24/7 phone line to manage the booking of appointments more efficiently.

5. Empower GPs to spend more of their budgets as they see fit by removing top-down bureaucracy.