GP appointment waits soar as Lib Dems push for urgent reforms

The Liberal Democrats have highlighted a significant increase in the number of patients waiting four weeks or longer for GP appointments, with NHS data indicating 10.3 million such waits in the first seven months of 2024. This figure surpasses the 8.6 million waits recorded during the same period in the previous year. The party's leader, Sir Ed Davey, emphasized the urgent need for reforms, advocating for a right to see a GP within seven days, or 24 hours for urgent cases. During their autumn conference in Brighton, the party discussed the ongoing GP crisis, attributing the situation to the Conservative Party's management of the NHS. Sir Ed Davey stated that timely access to healthcare could prevent many patients from requiring hospital treatment, benefiting both individuals and the healthcare system as a whole. The Liberal Democrats are committed to increasing the number of GPs to address these issues. Daisy Cooper, the party's deputy leader, is set to address the conference, underscoring the importance of accessible health services for personal freedom and quality of life. She argues that long waiting times restrict individuals' ability to live fully, emphasizing that good health services are essential for a liberal society. In response to the crisis, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the neglect of general practice and pledged to shift healthcare focus from hospitals to community settings. The government aims to hire an additional 1,000 GPs by the end of the year to alleviate the pressure on the NHS.