Waits to see GP in B&NES among worst in country

People are being forced to wait a very long time to see their doctor in Bath, according to new figures from the NHS.

Almost a third of people in Bath and North East Somerset (30.1 per cent) who needed an appointment had to wait eight days or more in February, which makes it one of the worst regions for waiting times in the UK.

“The Conservatives have broken their promise to recruit more GPS, leaving millions of people struggling to get an appointment when they need one,” said Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse.

Meanwhile the number of same day appointments in February fell by over half a million compared to January.

Nationwide, only 45 per cent of people were able to see their GP on the same day in February, down from 47 per cent the previous month.

“People across Bath and North East Somerset are suffering as a result of Conservative failures.

“Desperate people are turning up at A&E instead, piling pressure on the NHS at a time it can least afford it,” said Ms Hobhouse.

“Local health services are suffering after years of neglect under this Government which has driven them into the ground.

“We need a plan to recruit the GPS the country desperately needs and prevent so many doctors leaving or retiring early.”

Across the country, 6.2m people waited over eight days for a GP appointment in February, according to NHS figures. This is up nine per cent from the previous month, when 5.7m waited for eight days or more to see their doctor.

The Lib Dems called on Health Secretary Sajid Javid to publish a strategy to tackle GP shortages. The party said urgent action was needed to train more GPS and encourage experienced doctors to stay on in the profession, as many are considering early retirement or leaving altogether.