Swindon Labour hits out at GP waiting lists

New NHS data highlighting waiting times for GP appointments in South Swindon has drawn an angry response from the Labour Party.

According to the figures, 3,234 patients in South Swindon faced a wait of 28 days or more to see a GP in October alone, and a further 9,275 people had to wait more than two weeks. 

Almost 2m people in England had to wait more than 28 days in October, while a further 4.3m had to wait more than two weeks. 

At the same time, Labour says, the number of GPs has fallen to a record low, leaving patients in a desperate scramble to be seen.

The party says the findings come as it plans to abolish the non-dom tax status, which allows some wealthy people who live in Britain to pay their taxes overseas, to pay for training a new generation of NHS staff. 

Labour’s Cllr Jim Robbins, leader of the opposition at Swindon Borough Council, said: “Patients in Swindon are finding it impossible to see a GP when they need to. 

"Among those thousands waiting more than a month or not getting an appointment at all, there will be conditions going undiagnosed until it is too late.”

Heidi Alexander, Labour parliamentary candidate for South Swindon and former Shadow Health Secretary, said: “Twelve years of Conservative failure to train the staff our NHS needs has left it with thousands fewer GPs, and patients in Swindon are paying the price. 

"Meanwhile the Conservatives are protecting the non-dom tax status, allowing the international jet-set who live in Britain to pay their taxes overseas. We need doctors and nurses, not tax breaks for non-doms.”

Labour says its non-dom plan would:

- Double the number of medical school places, training 15,000 new doctors a year.

- Train 10,000 additional nurses and midwives every year.

- Double the number of district nurses qualifying each year.

- Train 5,000 new health visitors.

Labour’s plan, the party says, will see patients guaranteed a face-to-face appointment with a GP if they want one.

A spokesperson said: "While some patients prefer to hold appointments over the phone, many are frustrated at not being able to see their doctor in person, and just 22 percent of patients are given a choice in the type of appointment they have. 

"One in seven people who try to speak to a nurse or GP were unable to get an appointment at all last year.

"Labour is also pledging to bring back the family doctor, so patients can see the same GP each appointment if they choose to. 

"Patients are increasingly unable to see the doctor of their choice, with two in every three patients rarely or never speaking to their preferred doctor, up from just half in 2018. 

"Under Labour’s plans, GP practices will be provided with incentives to offer patients continuity of care, so doctors must take into account patients’ preferences."