Ealing has largest shortfall in GPs
NEARLY 1,800 MORE DOCTORS NEEDED ACROSS LONDON AS AVERAGE WAITS RISE FOR ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS
EALING is the London borough with the biggest shortfall of GPs, NHS data has revealed.
Nearly 1,800 GPs are needed across London as average wait times for routine appointments rise to more than two weeks, with 92 of these doctors needed in Ealing alone.
The Trades Union Congress, who analysed the data, say GP provision is at “critical” levels and have slammed the Tories for breaking their 2015 promise to recruit 5,000 more GPs by 2020.
In September the average number of patients per GP in London was 2,200, while the British Medical Association recommends each GP only sees 1,600 patients in order to provide high-quality service.
TUC Regional Secretary Sam Gurney said: “The Conservatives promised a big increase in GP numbers. But on their watch the number of doctors has fallen while demand has increased.
“Our hardworking and overstretched GPs are working tirelessly to help patients. But there are simply not enough of them to keep up with demand.
“As a result waiting times are increasing and patients are not getting the treatments they need on time. And family doctors are stressed and overwhelmed.
“The next government must put working families first, invest in our NHS and boost GP numbers.”
The Tories claim they will increase GP numbers nationwide by 6,000 through to 2025 should they win the election.
However, Matt Hancock, former Health Secretary admitted a previous Tory pledge to recruit 5,000 doctors by 2020 had not been met.
Redbridge and Newham also face a large shortfall of GPs, with 85 and 84 needed respectively in order to meet the BMA recommendation.
TUC calculated their figures using NHS digital data collected from October 2015 and September 2019 and excluded registrars from their analysis.