Budget fails to tackle NHS crisis as figures show Southport patients wait longer for GP appointments

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Erin Harvey is calling for more action from the government to tackle the NHS crisis after the Budget failed to announce adequate measures in light of spiralling wait lists.

Southport residents wait longer for GP appointments than the national average with 15% waiting more than 2 weeks for an appointment and it’s getting worse according to latest NHS Data (December 2023).

Part of the reason is increased demand with Southport and Formby residents asking for 11% more appointments than a year ago. The local figure compiled from NHS data by Liberal Democrats points, they say, to a potential future crisis.

The Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson for Southport, Erin Harvey believes that Southport with an increasingly older population needs at least one new GP practice to keep pace with the increased demand.

“ If that doesn’t happen or if there is no expansion of existing practices the queue for the GP will get longer. Longer waits can mean late diagnosis and late diagnosis can cost lives, ”  she says.

Using the latest NHS Patient Surveys, the Liberal Democrats previously released figures which showed varying degrees of satisfaction amongst patients of local practices with their GP access (see attached).

Liberal Democrats are calling for a GP Guarantee- giving patients a legal right to to see their GP within 7 days if necessary. 

“The figures in part reflect the rising demand for appointments, “ says Erin , “ but the bottom line is that it’s harder to get an appointment in Southport than in other parts of Merseyside and something has got to change or things will get worse. Giving patients the right for an appointment within 7 days will help ensure that resources go to the right place.

 " The key headline from today's Budget was the National Insurance cut which will be funded by spending cuts. At a time when we need stronger and well funded public services this is yet another example of a Tory budget with the wrong priorities."