New data shows that more than 3,000 patients in Oldham East and Saddleworth wait a month for a GP appointment

Labour MP Debbie Abrahams has hit out at the Government as new data from the NHS has shown that more people are waiting a month for a GP appointment than at any time since when records began in 2017. 

In her own constituency of Oldham East and Saddleworth, 3,126 people faced a wait of 28 days or more to see a GP in October.

Adding in the people who had to wait more than two weeks, the total becomes 6,792.

In the Commons yesterday (Tuesday), MPs were debating ahead of a vote on a motion proposed by the Labour Party 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. 

During the debate, Ms Abrahams addresed the health secretary, saying: “As someone who worked in the NHS during the last period of Labour government, I was proud of being able to ensure that my constituents would have an appointment with a GP within 24 hours. 

“I was proud of the fact that someone who needed elective care would receive it within 18 weeks. 

“I was proud of the fact that the treatment of someone diagnosed with cancer would start within 60 days.

"That is not what is happening on the secretary of state’s watch.”

She went on to ask him about his party’s record in terms of the health service being provided for her constituents, saying: “Can the minister tell me why my constituency has fewer GPs than it had in 2015, along with an increase in demand? 

“How is this delivering the quality care that I know we had on my watch, and that of the last Labour government.”

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

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

Labour’s plan to end non-dom tax breaks would pay for:

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

Training 5,000 new health visitors

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

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% 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

Wes Streeting MP, Shadow Health Secretary, said: “Patients in Oldham East and Saddleworth 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.

“Twelve years of Conservative failure to train the staff our NHS needs has left it with thousands fewer GPs, and patients are paying the price.

"Meanwhile, the Conservatives are protecting the non-dom tax status, allowing people who live in Britain to pay their taxes overseas. 

“We need doctors and nurses, not non-doms.

“Labour will train a new generation of doctors and nurses, paid for by abolishing non-doms.

"Patients need doctors’ appointments more than the wealthiest need a tax break.

“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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