Clinical Negligence Solicitors

GPs are predicting that patients will wait up to one month to see their GP by this time next year because of pressure on NHS GP services.

A survey of 714 senior GPs also revealed that the average waiting time to see a GP would increase to two weeks.

The survey revealed that many GPs also feel that services are now so stretched that they are potentially dangerous, with more GPs missing symptoms in patients because of the time constraints on patient care.

The Daily Mail reports that some GP surgeries are also oversubscribed with patients that the only way to get a GP appointment is to start queuing at dawn outside the surgery.

More than a quarter (25.5%) of GPs questioned in the poll for Pulse magazine said that the average wait to see a GP in their area was currently two weeks – while 6% said it was nearer thee weeks and this would increase to between five and six weeks by this time next year.

A GP partner in Maidstone, Kent – Dr Zishan Mehdi Syed – warned that GP services were becoming dangerous:

“General practice is becoming unsafe and dangerous due to inappropriate demand.

“Unfortunately a great number of people have no idea whatsoever of how difficult my job is.

“Many people, for example, demand home visits during times when surgeries are conducted – and do not appreciate that everything cannot be done in one day.”


The poll shows that average waiting times to see a GP have increased from nine days last year to ten days this year.

GP predictions warn that this is likely to increase to 14 days by this time next year.

A&E departments have said that waiting times to see a GP has impacted on Accident and Emergency departments, with mental health patients, elderly patients and worried parents using A&E departments when they are unable to see a GP.

Accident and Emergency units have also seen a knock-on effect from the rise in alcohol abuse across the UK after licensing laws were relaxed under New Labour and opening times extended. Drinkers who pass out or fall and injure themselves are usually taken to a local A&E department to be checked out or to sleep off the effects of alcohol.

The UK also has a rising population, with more demand for GP services from families.

Responding to the findings of the poll, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association’s GP Committee, Dr Richard Vautrey, said waiting times came as no surprise as GP surgeries are struggling to recruit newly-qualified doctors as GPs.

More GPs are also approaching retirement age – or are leaving the UK to work overseas.

Dr Vautrey added that the reduction in resources was also making GP practice less attractive to young doctors.

“The frustration is that all of the parties in the election campaign at the moment seem to be failing to address these really important issues that patients and GPs are so bothered about,” he said.

“None of the parties are really coming forward with any credible solutions for recruiting new GPs and making general practice attractive to young doctors.

“We need them to create that atmosphere and to make a real change to what has been happening over the last decade or so.”

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