Fears over rising waits to see GPs

FEARS have been raised that patients – including those in Halton – could be waiting for dangerously long periods to see their doctors.

Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College Of GPs, said extended waiting times could pose a serious risk, especially during winter as overstretched medics struggle to keep waiting times down.

According to the most recent NHS GP survey results, for 2015-16, 20% of patients in Halton had to wait for a week or more to see their GP, 19% had to wait a few days, 7% saw a doctor on the next working day and 50% were same-day appointments.

The survey said that 13% could not make an appointment at all and 16% had to call back closer to the time.

About two thirds (66%) of those who responded to the NHS questionnaire said they were able to make an appointment.

The survey did not provide a breakdown of how many patients had to wait two, three or more weeks to see a doctor.

Dr Stokes-Lampard warned that for those not seen for three or four weeks, ‘the nonurgent stuff may be becoming urgent’.

The senior doctor warned that symptoms for those waiting two or three weeks to be seen can include bleeding and suspect lumps.

She added that she was ‘profoundly concerned’ about how doctors’ surgeries would cope during the busy winter period.

Dr Stokes-Lampard’s comments were made during an interview with the Press Association.

She said: “If you’ve suddenly developed a lump, or you’ve got a funny pain somewhere, you know it’s not desperately urgent for you to see your GP today but you’d like to see a GP within a few days, you’d certainly like to see them within a week to 10 days because actually you’re worried.

“If it’s already taking some patients two to three weeks to get in to see a GP for the nonurgent stuff, then by the time three to four weeks has passed the non-urgent stuff may be becoming urgent.

“With lumps or bleeding problems or things that could be signs of serious disease, my profound concern is that people will delay seeking help for things that could potentially be life-threatening or lifechanging if they are not tackled swiftly.” ● Dr Helen StokesLampard has warned of the danger of rising delays for people in getting to see their family doctor