In England, more than five million patients wait more than two weeks to see a GP every month, despite ministers promising that everyone will be able to see one within 14 days.
The government announced in September 2022 that patients would be able to see their GP within two weeks of booking an appointment, and Thérèse Coffey, who was health minister at the time, promised to prioritise the issue with “laser-like focus”.
But new figures from the House of Commons Library’s analysis of NHS data show that in 2023 around 61 million bookings were made more than two weeks after they were requested.
Between January and December last year, 60,905,102 patients waited more than two weeks for a GP appointment – up 22% from 49,862,465 in 2022, and more than three times the increase in total appointments (6%).
The Liberal Democrats, who commissioned the analysis, said the figures were “unacceptable” and provided conclusive evidence that the Government had “brought the NHS to its knees”.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: “Patients are bearing the brunt of this failure, with millions forced to wait agonising weeks just to get an appointment with their GP. This is unacceptable and is only getting worse after years of Conservative confusion and neglect.
“This Conservative government has destroyed local health services and brought the NHS to its knees.”
In their election manifesto to voters on Friday, the Liberal Democrats will offer patients a new right to see a GP within a week, and within 24 hours in emergencies. They will say this can be achieved by increasing the number of GPs by 8,000 and providing 65 million extra consultations a year.
“The Liberal Democrats will give people a legal right to see a GP within a week or 24 hours in case of an emergency, so they don’t have to struggle to get an appointment,” Mr Davey said. Ta. “This is the core of what we are proposing to voters this election and our plan to solve the health and care crisis.”
The analysis found that in 2023, around 18 million GP appointments will have waiting times of more than a month. This represents a 38% increase compared to the number of waiting times of more than 28 days in 2022.
The report analysed the time between when a GP appointment was booked and when it was made. Some waiting times of more than two weeks may include cases where it is appropriate, the House of Commons Library suggested. It could reflect patient preferences, not just compulsory waiting.
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting accused Rishi Sunak of “giving up” on the NHS in the House of Commons on Thursday.
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“Fourteen years of Conservative incompetence, neglect and sabotage have left the NHS in the worst state it has ever been in,” he said.
“[Sunak] The government went into this election with no plans to reduce waiting lists, end strikes or reform services. The Conservatives have stretched the NHS to breaking point and given five more years they will finish the job. ”
In response, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins praised the performance of the NHS in Labour-run Wales.[Streeting] “It talks about the Conservative Party’s record,” she said. “We are very proud of it.
“I am particularly proud of the government’s record funding for mental and physical health. [Streeting] Are you that proud of your Welsh record? ”
