ONE in six people have waited at least two weeks to see a GP in England in the past year.
Several thousand faced the interval between booking and their appointment in the 12 months to May.
The Liberal Democrats released data revealing one in six patients in England have waited more than two weeks for a GP appointment over the past yearAlamy
The South West was the worst-hit region with one in five waiting for more than 14 days.
Almost a quarter of patients faced a fortnight’s hold-up in Gloucestershire and Dorset.
That’s more than double the 9.2 per cent of two-week waits in Liverpool, according to House of Commons Library figures.
The data was released by the Liberal Democrats who are calling for ministers to employ 8,000 more GPs.
It comes as family doctors threaten to join consultants and junior medics on picket lines if their pay is not improved next year.
A poll of 362 GP partners by doctors’ magazine Pulse found 54 per cent would stop routine appointments for a day while 31 per cent would do so for a week.
The partners run surgeries and average £140,000 take home.
Salaried GPs in England earn from £65,000 to £98,000 — increased by six per cent this month.
Dr Kieran Sharrock, of the British Medical Association, said: “The Government must negotiate a contract that properly reflects the challenges in general practice and gives practices the support they need to care for patients.”
It comes after junior doctors and consultants in the BMA held strikes this week despite a “final offer” rise from the Government.
