Liberal Democrats launch petition demanding more GPs for Borough

The Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes area (BLMK) is one of the worst hit areas in the country by the growing shortage of GPs, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. It comes as many people are struggling to book an appointment with their GP, with services increasingly under pressure from rising demand.

The figures show there is now just one GP per 2,462 people in BLMK in June 2021, compared to the national average of one GP per 2,038 people. This is up 18% from the one GP per 2,092 people in BLMK five years ago. The number of GPs employed in the area has also fallen by 12% to just 390 in the same period.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats said the alarming figures, based on analysis by the House of Commons Library, revealed the stark "postcode lottery" facing GP patients. Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to invest in GP services to ensure people can get a doctors' appointment when they need one. Further analysis by the British Medical Association (BMA) shows a dismal picture for the country as a whole, with there being the equivalent of over 1,900 fewer fully qualified, full-time GPs now than there were in 2015.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said "The Conservative government are badly letting down both GPs and patients in Bedford Borough, our residents deserve a fair deal. Instead of fixing the GP shortage crisis, the Conservatives are making it worse by failing to train the new doctors we desperately need. Our hard-working GPs are overstretched and people have been left waiting too long for treatment or even an appointment. The government must invest more in our GP practices and train up more doctors, to ensure patients get the fair deal they deserve."

Dean Crofts, Liberal Democrat Councillor and Spokesperson on Health said "Families rely on being able to see a GP when they or their children fall sick to get advice, access treatment and get well again. I'm concerned with the diagnoses that will inevitably be missed. This is not about pay, but workload: the government need to make the profession attractive again for graduates by improving GP working conditions. Please support our campaign by signing the petition."

To show your support for the campaign to call for a fair deal for Bedford Borough with an increase in the number of GPs in our area, please sign the petition https://bedfordlibdems.org.uk/en/petition/gp-shortage.