Lib Dems pledge GP appointments within a week as research reveals crunch in rural areas

Published

1 year ago

September 24, 2023

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The Liberal Democrats have promised to give everyone the right to see a GP within seven days as the party highlights a divide between health services in urban and rural areas

Research by the House of Commons Library – commissioned by the party – showed the proportion of people waiting four weeks or more for a GP appointment is three times higher in rural parts of England than in London.

Just over 20% of patients living in the countryside waited two weeks or more between April and June of this year, compared to 16.9% of those in cities and towns.

And 6% of rural patients waited four weeks or more, compared to 4.6% of urban patients.

The research also showed rural communities in the East Midlands and South West faced the worst waits, with 6.6% having to go 28 days or more – three times higher than the 2.1% facing the same delays in the capital.

The Lib Dems are calling on the government to take action on closing this divide, and promised they would “enshrine in the NHS constitution” a right for patients to see a GP within a week, or within 24 hours if the case is urgent, with a pledge to hire 8,000 more GPs in England.

Party leader Sir Ed Davey – who will appear on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips this weekend – said: “Millions of people across the country are struggling to get a GP appointment when they need one, leaving them waiting in pain and distress.

“GPs should be the front door to the NHS, but that door has been slammed shut in people’s faces after years of Conservative broken promises and neglect.

“We will narrow the divide between rural and urban areas, ensuring everyone can see a GP when they need to and get the care they deserve.”

The Lib Dems are gathering in Bournemouth this weekend for their annual party conference and senior party sources told Sky News that the NHS would be the “golden thread” running through the event.

As a result, the party made a second announcement on Saturday night – the promise to provide mental health “MOTs” for several at-risk groups on the NHS.

In her speech to conference on Sunday, deputy leader Daisy Cooper will warn mental health has “dropped off the political radar” as she unveils proposals for regular check-ups.

People between 40 and 74 already receive physical check-ups on the NHS, but the party believes a stronger focus on mental health during these appointments would help to detect problems early at little extra cost.

The mental health “MOT” checks would be offered to men in their 40s, women who have recently given birth and people in retirement under the plans.

Politics

Trump’s tariffs may lead to savings for Americans through tax cuts: Research

Published

8 hours ago

February 22, 2025

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Trump’s tariffs may lead to savings for Americans through tax cuts: Research

Prior to the 16th Amendment, which was ratified in 1913, the United States did not have a permanent income tax levied on citizens.

Politics

Jess Phillips says there’s ‘no place’ where violence against women ‘doesn’t happen’ – as spiking to become new offence

Published

23 hours ago

February 22, 2025

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Jess Phillips says there's 'no place' where violence against women 'doesn't happen' - as spiking to become new offence

Jess Phillips has said “there is no place” where violence against women and girls “doesn’t happen” – as a new law is set to make spiking a criminal offence.

Earlier on Friday, the government said spiking will now be its own offence with a possible 10-year prison sentence as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, which will be introduced in parliament next week.

It also announced a nationwide training programme to help workers spot and prevent attacks.

Speaking to Sky News correspondent Ashna Hurynag, the safeguarding minister said that while spiking is already illegal under existing laws, the new classification will simplify reporting the act for victims.

“Spiking is illegal – that isn’t in question, but what victims and campaigners who have tried to use the legislation as it currently is have told us is that it’s unclear,” Ms Phillips said.

UK ‘was never safe’ for women

When asked if the UK is becoming a less safe place for women, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: “I don’t think it’s becoming less safe, if I’m being honest. I think it was never safe.”

Speaking about a rise in coverage, Ms Phillips said: “We have a real opportunity to use that, the sense of feeling [built by campaigners] in the country, to really push forward political change in this space.”

“The reality is that it doesn’t matter whether it’s the House of Commons or any pub in your local high street – there is no place where violence against women and girls doesn’t happen, I’m afraid,” she added.

Spiking is when someone is given drugs or alcohol without them knowing or consenting, either by someone putting something in their drink or using a needle.

Police in England and Wales received 6,732 reports of spiking in the year up to April 2023 – with 957 of those relating to needle spiking.

London’s Metropolitan Police added that reports of spiking had increased by 13% in 2023, with 1,383 allegations.

As part of the nationwide training programme, a £250,000 government-funded scheme was started last week to teach staff how to spot warning signs of spiking crimes, prevent incidents and gather evidence.

It aims to train 10,000 staff at pubs, clubs and bars for free by April this year.

Alex Davies-Jones, minister for victims and violence against women and girls, said in a statement that “no one should feel afraid to go out at night” or “have to take extreme precautions to keep themselves safe when they do”.

“To perpetrators, my message is clear: spiking is vile and illegal and we will stop you,” he said. “To victims or those at risk, we want you to know: the law is on your side. Come forward and help us catch these criminals.”

Colin Mackie, founder of Spike Aware UK, also said the charity is “delighted with the steps being taken by the government to combat spiking”.

He added: “Spiking can happen anywhere, but these new initiatives are the first steps to making it socially unacceptable and we urge anyone that suspects or sees it happening, not to remain silent.”