BROMSGROVE’S Liberal Democrats are calling for a legal right for patients to see a GP within seven days, or 24 hours if urgent, by increasing the number of qualified GPs by 8,000.
Funding for GP services in Worcestershire and Herefordshire have been cut by over £10million since 2019.
Dr David Nicholl, an NHS doctor and candidate to be Bromsgrove’s next MP said: “Families and pensioners in Bromsgrove are currently struggling to see their GP despite being in need of medical advice.
“It is leaving people waiting in pain or simply anxious about not getting the care they need.
“It is not right that our community is suffering the consequences of this Conservative government’s neglect of local health services.
“Rishi Sunak and his failing government is totally out of touch with people’s concerns.
“Conservative MPs are too busy fighting amongst themselves to deliver the health services that we so desperately need.”
David added that seeing your GP should be the core of our NHS.
Figures show that the conservatives have nationally slashed funding by 6.9% per patient.
Worcestershire and Herfordshire have been slashed by £10,481,206.41 in real terms since 2019.
The cut comes despite the demand for GP services and NHS waiting lists are near record numbers at 7.6million.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are committed to improving access to GPs, and we are now delivering 50 million more GP appointments per year.
“The most recent data shows GP funding increased in real terms by 19% between 2017 and 2022, and our Primary Care Recovery Plan is investing £645 million to expand pharmaceutical services and take pressure off general practice.
“We are also investing £240 million on digital tools, telephony and training to ensure GP surgeries have what they need to improve access for patients.”
