One In Three London GPs Closed To New Patients

12.00.00am GMT Tue 4th Nov 2003

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."