Liberal Democrats Urge Action to Address the Disparity in Access to GP Appointments Between Urban and Rural Areas

According to data obtained by the Liberal Democrats, waiting times for GP appointments of at least four weeks are significantly longer in rural areas compared to urban areas, with some rural regions seeing figures more than three times higher than in London. The party is calling for a strategy to close what it refers to as an “urban-rural divide” in access to GPs across England.

The figures, which were commissioned by the party and provided by the House of Commons Library, reveal that 20.6% of patients in rural areas waited two weeks or longer for a GP appointment between April and June this year, compared to 16.9% in urban areas. For those waiting four weeks or more, the percentage in rural areas was 6%, whereas in urban areas, it was 4.6%. In London, the figure was just 2.1%, with some rural areas in the East Midlands (7%) and South West (6.7%) facing even longer waits.

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to give all patients the right to see a GP within a week, or within 24 hours in urgent cases, and plan to increase the number of GPs by 8,000 as part of their policy proposal.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, commented: “Millions are struggling to access a GP when they need one, leaving them in pain and distress. GPs should be the first point of contact for NHS care, but that door is now shut to many, especially in rural areas. We are committed to tackling this crisis, ensuring that everyone, no matter where they live, has the care they need.”

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, stressed that while access targets may provide short-term appeal, they are not a solution to the ongoing crisis in general practice. With rising demand and a growing number of GPs leaving the profession, she said that general practice is now in a state of crisis, particularly in rural and deprived areas.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care responded, saying that GPs are vital to local communities and that appointment numbers are already on the rise. They highlighted a recent £240 million funding announcement to support practices and improve access via technology, as well as a long-term workforce plan aimed at recruiting and retaining more staff, especially in rural regions.