Responding to reports that the number of full-time GPs has fallen by 7% in the past 5 years, the Milton Keynes Progressive Alliance is calling on the Government to get a grip on the shortage.

Councillor Emily Darlington, Labour Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing and Healthy Communities, said: “The Tory Government have failed to increase GP numbers in Milton Keynes, making it hard to get an appointment when you need one.”

 “This is not a new issue, or one just brought about because of COVID. This has been an issue for years, and it is massively impacting people’s health and wait times in Milton Keynes.”

This past August, while 39% of face-to-face appointments were booked for the same day, 57% of appointments in the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes area were booked for between one day or 28 days’ time. Just under 5% of appointments were booked for more than 28 days away.

Councillor Jane Carr, Liberal Democrat Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequalities and Child Poverty, said:“The Government needs to get a grip on these falling numbers, so that GPs are no longer struggling with a ridiculous workload, and so that the residents of Milton Keynes get the quality of care they deserve.”