September 15th 2024.
The recent Darzi report on the NHS has brought to light a concerning issue - the shortage of General Practitioners (GPs) in the UK. This has resulted in patients having to wait for extended periods of time to secure an appointment with their GP. In fact, the latest figures show that over 10 million people have had to wait for a month or more for an appointment this year alone.
The statistics are alarming, indicating that 2024 may be a record-breaking year for long waiting times to see a family doctor in England. In the worst-performing area, Gloucestershire, 10.1% of appointments had a wait time of four weeks or more. These findings were revealed in the scathing report by Lord Darzi, which also highlighted the fact that the UK has almost 16% fewer fully qualified GPs compared to other high-income countries in proportion to its population.
The Liberal Democrats, who compiled the data on long waiting times, are calling for the NHS to be given top priority status in the upcoming budget by the Labour government. Party leader Sir Ed Davey emphasized the importance of addressing the GP crisis, stating that it would not only benefit patients but also lessen the strain on the NHS and taxpayers. He proposed a guaranteed right for patients to see their GP within seven days, or within 24 hours for urgent cases.
The Darzi report also criticized the reforms introduced by former health secretary Andrew Lansley in 2012, which were implemented while the Lib Dems were part of the coalition government with the Conservatives. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has acknowledged the need for dramatic reform in the NHS, describing the Lansley reforms as a "calamity without international precedent" and "disastrous". Lib Dem deputy leader and health spokesperson Daisy Cooper also expressed regret over the party's involvement in the coalition, stating that they fought to protect healthcare spending during that time.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the dire state of the NHS, specifically the neglect of general practice. They promised to shift the focus of healthcare from hospitals to the community in order to address this issue. The government has also committed to hiring an additional 1,000 GPs by the end of the year and providing extra funding for GP contracts.
The ongoing Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton has placed a strong emphasis on health and social care policy, with many speeches and events dedicated to discussing the NHS. This is the first conference since the party's successful general election in July, where their number of MPs increased from 15 to 72. Both Cooper and Davey are expected to address the issue of the NHS in their speeches, highlighting its importance in the current political landscape.
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