Over 5 million patients in England are waiting more than two weeks to see a GP, despite promises from the government to ensure appointments within 14 days. The failure to meet this target has led to nearly 61 million delayed appointments in 2023, a 22% increase from the previous year.
The Liberal Democrats have criticized the government for neglecting the NHS, with leader Ed Davey calling the situation unacceptable. As part of their election pledge, the Lib Dems are offering a new right for patients to see a GP within a week or 24 hours for urgent cases by increasing the number of GPs.
The analysis also revealed almost 18 million GP appointments had waits of a month or more, a 38% increase from 2022. The shadow health secretary accused the government of giving up on the NHS, while the health secretary defended the Conservative party’s record.
The ongoing issues in accessing timely healthcare highlight the need for urgent reform and investment in the NHS to meet the growing demands of patients across the country.