50% rise in people waiting more than four weeks to see a GP in North Cumbria

Shocking new figures have revealed that the number of four-week waits for a GP appointment rose by 50% in North Cumbria last year.

The House of Commons Library analysis, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, looks at NHS data measuring the time between when a GP appointment was booked and when it took place, broken down by local NHS areas across England.

Meanwhile the figures also show that one-in-five people in Morecambe Bay are waiting more than a fortnight to see their local doctor.

It comes after a recent survey, conducted by the Consortium of Lancashire and Cumbria Local Medical Committees (LMC), found that 10 GP practices in Cumbria and Lancashire are at immediate risk of closing their doors, while a further 111 say they are struggling financially.

Cumbria’s Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron has written to the Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, urging here to increasing funding for local GP practices.

Tim said: “Far too many people in Cumbria are struggling to get a GP appointment when they need one.

“It shows our community has been totally abandoned by this Conservative Government when it comes to local health services.

“Our local GP practices have been badly underfunded, with many saying they are facing huge financial difficulties, with some even saying they are on the brink of closure.

“We desperately need the Government to wake up to the crisis that is unfolding in general practice and give our local doctors surgeries the funding they need to carry on serving local communities.”