The Liberal Democrats’ examination of NHS statistics revealed that in the seven months leading up to July, there were 10.3 million instances of waiting four weeks or longer for a GP appointment.
Compared to the same time last year, when 8.6 million appointments had four-week wait times, that is 1.7 million more appointments.
It is anticipated that this year’s figure will surpass last year’s record of 17.6 million four-week delays.
According to NHS figures, nearly one in ten GP visits in some locations have had wait times of four weeks or more thus far this year.
10.1% of GP appointments in Gloucestershire result in four-week waits, which is the highest percentage in the nation.
The following three regions are Chorley and South Ribble, Derby, Derbyshire, and Glossop, Dorset, all of which had 9% or more of their patients waiting more than four weeks for a GP appointment.
That is almost twice the 5% national average.
When the chancellor presents her autumn budget on October 30, the Liberal Democrats will be pressing the government to enhance funding for the National Health Service (NHS), which includes GP services.
However, as he unveiled a 10-year plan to improve health care earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer declared that the NHS would not receive any further funds until reforms were made.
