'We are calling for action now, to improve people's access to Medway GPs' - say local Lib Dems
Liberal Democrats call on the Government to take action to improve people's access to GPs and get urgent appointments. Far too many people in our towns' are struggling to get a GP appointment when they need one, leaving them waiting anxiously for the care they deserve. In September alone, nationally 8.9 million GP appointments involved a wait of more than a week, with 5 million waiting longer than the Government's own target of two weeks.
John Castle, chair of Medway Liberal Democrats said, "So many people are anxiously waiting for an appointment for worrying symptoms. Doctors are working as hard as they can but they've been let down by the Conservatives. Patients are paying the price. The Lib Dem plan would guarantee people can see a doctor quickly. And we'd introduce a new 24/7 hotline so people could book a GP appointment anytime.
We have been consistent in calling for better GP access in Medway and Kent. This has terrible consequences for Medway resident's health, and for our local NHS. It can lead to important diagnoses being missed or delayed, and can force desperate people to call an ambulance or take themselves into A&E. The blame for this crisis is clear, and it isn't the country's overstretched GPs. It's the Conservative Government. Back in 2019, the Conservatives promised to deliver 6,000 more doctors, but the number of qualified GPs has actually fallen by 500.
GPs are our first line of defence when we become ill and are absolutely critical for solving the crisis we have in our accident and emergency departments as well on waiting lists for surgeries. Spotting illnesses early is critical in preventing patients from reaching a crisis point where they need either emergency treatment or more advanced treatment.
Locally, Medway Liberal Democrats are developing health policies for Medway. We must ensure the number of GPs is rising to bring waiting times down. People across our region are suffering from years of neglect under the Conservatives, who have repeatedly broken their promises on local health services. It's just not good enough."
That's why the Liberal Democrats are calling for patients to have a new right: to see a GP within 7 days, or within 24 hours if they urgently need to. Of course, delivering on that right can't mean copying the Conservatives' failed approach, of just setting the targets, cutting GP numbers, and then blaming GPs when the targets are missed. By giving doctors the time and the tools they need to do their jobs, we can make sure everyone gets the care they need, when they need it.
That's why we have set out a clear plan for how the Government should step up and recruit 8,000 more GPs and free up more of their time, including :
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Increasing training places for GPs and medical school places across the country.
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Fixing the broken NHS pension rules to help experienced GPs stay in the profession.
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Giving more prescribing rights and public health advisory services to qualified pharmacists, nurse practitioners and appropriately trained paramedics.
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Introducing a 24/7 phone line to manage the booking of appointments more efficiently.
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Empowering GPs to spend more of their budgets as they see fit by removing top-down bureaucracy.
ENDS