One In Three London GP's Closed To New Patients - Hughes

11.09.47am GMT Tue 4th Nov 2003

Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate Simon Hughes MP

Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate Simon Hughes MP will today (Tuesday 4th November 2003) quiz health ministers on the Government's failure to address many people's inability to get on their local GP list in London because they are closed.

A survey by Liberal Democrats revealed that of 100 NHS GPs surgeries across London, 1 in 3 London NHS GPs are currently unable to take on new patients and 53% were either presently closed to new patients or had been in the last 12 months.

Ministers do not collect information on how many lists are closed to patients. Simon Hughes said: "These figures are totally unacceptable. It is outrageous that so many Londoners are unable to register with their local doctor."

"The Government is promising to force GPs to take on more and more patients, yet many are already overburdened, overloaded and overworked. Ministers' failure to deliver on healthcare is stopping the people who most need the services of a doctor from getting them. Unless GPs are given the resources and the freedom to do their job, more and more people will be unable to become patients."

"Many of those affected by closed GP lists are some of the most vulnerable in society. Health problems may be ignored and trips to the doctor postponed because of the difficulties in finding a doctor. It is time that Ministers woke up to the inability of thousands of people across London to get the right services, at the right time, in the right place."

ENDS

Notes to editors follow.

1. 100 NHS GPs surgeries across London were randomly surveyed between 29th July 2003 and 15th August 2003. The two questions asked were:

• Do you currently have a closed list to new patients?

• Have you had a closed list at any point in the last 12 months?

• 33 GP surgeries had closed list now, and a further 20 had closed their lists in the previous 12 months but were currently open.

1. Dr John Reid, the Health Secretary, has proposed scrapping the system under which patients sign up with a single GP and instead will allow them to "shop around" for different services. Reid has told officials he is in favour of allowing patients to register with more than one doctor. In addition, GPs would no longer be able to say their lists were full and shut out arrivals.

2. Five times the number of new GPs promised in the NHS Plan are needed in order to implement the reforms laid down by the Plan. Targets include reducing the waiting time for appointments to 48 hours and increasing patient consultation time from 7 to 10 minutes. There have been no specific targets set by Government regarding the ability of individuals to get access to a GP list.

3. Details of the surgeries contacted are available on request