Labour says 7,798 Swindon patients faced a month-long wait for a GP appointment in January

By Jessica Durston - 2 March 2023

HealthPolitics

Swindon Labour says new data from the NHS reveals that over 7,000 people in Swindon faced a wait of 28 days or more to see a GP last month.

Swindon Labour are highlighting these figures, following recent calls on Jeremy Hunt to adopt Labour's plan to double medical school places and train 10,000 more nurses and midwives in his Budget.

A further 14,429 people were said to have had to wait more than two weeks. 

Labour says recent statistics found one and a quarter million people in England had to wait more than 28 days in January alone, while a further 3 million had to wait more than two weeks. 

The Party added that at the same time, the number of qualified GPs has fallen to a 'record low', leaving patients in 'a desperate scramble to be seen.' Since 2015, more than 2,000 GPs have been cut.

The NHS has proposed that the Government adopt Labour’s plan to double medical school places, but the Party say Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, is currently refusing to fund it.

Labour’s plan includes:

  • Doubling the number of medical school places
  • Creating 10,000 new nursing and midwifery placements each year
  • Doubling the number of district nurses qualifying each year
  • Providing 5,000 new health visitors

Labour says it would pay for the plans by abolishing non-dom tax status, which allows residents of the UK to avoid paying taxes here.

The Party are also promising that patients will be guaranteed a face-to-face appointment with a GP if they want one.

While some patients prefer to hold appointments over the phone, Labour say many are frustrated at not being able to see their doctor in person, and just 22% of patients are given a choice in the type of appointment they have. The Party added that one in seven people who try to speak to a nurse or GP were unable to get an appointment at all last year.

Heidi Alexander, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon said: "Patients across Swindon are finding it impossible to see a GP when they need to. Among those 7,798 waiting more than a month or not getting an appointment at all, there will be conditions going undiagnosed until it is too late."

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

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

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

Will Stone, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for North Swindon said: “Anyone who has had to rely on the NHS recently can see it is desperately short of staff. The NHS is backing Labour’s plan to double medical school places. Why isn’t the government?

“Patients should be able to see the doctor they want, in the manner they choose, when they need to. Labour will put patients first and get them seen on time again.”

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