Long waits for a GP appointment have soared under Labour with 300,000 more people waiting over a month to be seen this autumn, figures reveal.
A total of 7.6million patients faced a delay of more than four weeks across September, October and November – up 312,112 (4.2 per cent) on the same months in 2024.
It means one in every 13 appointments (7.5 per cent) followed a wait of this length, while one in every five (20.9 per cent) took place at least two weeks after they were booked.
The Liberal Democrats, who analysed the NHS England data, say the figures represent a ‘damning failure’ by the Labour government to improve access.
The party described the situation as a ‘crisis’ and is calling for a GP ‘rescue package’ to ensure patients can see a GP within seven days or 24 hours if urgent.
It says difficulties securing an appointment with a family doctor are leaving patients anxious and in crippling pain, with some resorting to ‘overwhelmed’ A&Es.
Latest data shows 1,770,148 people waited over a month for a GP appointment in November, which is 246,625 higher than when Labour took office in July last year.
It follows the worst October for month-long waits since records began.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat’s health spokesperson
Every region in England has recorded a significant increase in the number of patients waiting over two weeks and four weeks for appointments since Labour took power.
The South West is the worst hit region, with an increase of 53,000 more patients (23.7 per cent) waiting over four weeks for an appointment.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat’s health spokesperson, said: ‘Nobody should be forced to wait over a month to see their GP, and yet millions of people across the country are being left waiting anxiously, in pain or needing treatment.
‘In desperation, many people are having to turn to our overwhelmed A&Es to be seen.
‘GP services were left teetering on the edge by the Conservatives, but the fact that waits have worsened represents a damning failure by the Labour government too.
‘Liberal Democrats would breathe life back into our GP services, with a new legal right for every patient to be seen within seven days or 24 hours if urgent, so that no one is denied care when they need it.
‘If this crisis is allowed to fester, the price for our NHS and for patients will be devastating.’
Health secretary Wes Streeting branded waits of two weeks or more to see a family doctor as ‘unacceptable’ when in opposition.
Health secretary Wes Streeting
However, booking an appointment for two weeks’ or four weeks’ time does not necessarily mean there was not an earlier appointment available.
People may be booking ahead for a follow-up appointment or scheduling regular routine checks for a long-term condition.
The data shows the time between booking and being seen and does not indicate when the patient wanted an appointment.
The number of GP appointments has increased generally and the percentage occurring at two weeks and four weeks is largely unchanged year on year.
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, which campaigns for elderly patients, said: ‘Far from the Government improving access to GPs as promised, this research shows that our longstanding call for a legal right to a timely doctor’s appointment is now a necessity.
‘Labour should be thoroughly ashamed of these figures, which brutally expose the claims of Wes Streeting that the NHS has turned a corner and is improving.
‘Many older patients find it almost impossible to see a doctor these days, and on most occasions they have to trust a less qualified member of staff to make an initial diagnosis.
‘The number of patients waiting to see their doctor who die, or have to use ambulances to get to A and E, before they are lucky enough to see their GP, would be another compelling piece of research.’
Doctors’ reception and waiting room with lots of empty seats
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘These figures are being misrepresented as requests for ‘urgent’ appointments but include long term condition reviews and follow-up appointments which are often booked well in advance to suit patients.
‘Over the past 16 months, this government has invested an extra £1.1 billion into primary care, recruited an extra 2,500 GPs, and halved the number of targets so GPs spend less time box ticking and more time caring for patients.
‘As a result, patient satisfaction with general practice has improved after a decade of decline.
‘GP teams have delivered 6.5 million more appointments in the last 12 months up from 378.2 million to 384.7 million with 2025 set to be a record year.’
